C-NES calls for inclusive health care and collaboration at Kunming

Calling for collaboration in inclusive health care for millions of vulnerable people in NE India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and SW China, Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee, C-NES, made a presentation at Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, China, on the innovative Boat Clinics that the organization runs in partnership with the National Rural Health Mission in 13 districts of Assam. Hazarika’s presentation was widely appreciated at the international, multi-track forum known as the BCIM (Bangladesh China India Myanmar) that has been working at an informal Track II basis, involving scholars, former officials as well as media.  Hazarika also called for academic exchanges and collaboration between Yunnan’s academic institutions with Jamia Milia Islamia’s Centre for NE Studies that he runs in New Delhi.

Sanjoy Hazarika flanked by Burmese government officials

While Bangladesh, Myanmar and China were represented by senior Ministers or Foreign Office officials, the Indian team was led by Eric HGonsalves, former Sexcretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and included other former diplomats and schoalrs, including Prof Mahendra Lama, Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University. The Forum seeks to expand collaboration in trade and tourism as well as extensive exchanges in education and culture.  A Kunming to Kolkata Car Rally is planned for 2012, it was announced, with the route going through Mandalay in Myanmar, then Manipur (at Moreh) and moving through Assam into Bangladesh befopre ending at Kolkata. The first such Car Rally was held in 2004 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the event at Guwahati.

Sanjoy Hzarika with Ravi Bhootalingam of Manas Advisory Group of New Delhi

Chinese hosts from the Culture Dept,  Govt of Yunnan,  former Ambassador Kishan Rana and an MP from Bangladesh