Published Paper Details:

Resource extension is a natural process. Different regions of the world have access to different renewable and non-renewable natural resources such as forest resources, fertile soil, river water, etc. Often such resources are spread to a large space that can be shared by different communities of a particular region. The present paper is an attempt to unearth the sharing of resources between Seajuli which is a tea estate of North Lakhimpur, Assam located adjacent to the Kakoi Administrative Circle of Papum Pare District, Arunachal Pradesh. From time immemorial the people from both regions are living in harmony despite different socioeconomic backgrounds. The present dwellers of the study area are Apatani, Nyishi, Adivasi, Nepali, Bengali, and Assamese are few in number. In the above-mentioned study area, the people living on either side of the boundary are different in terms of ethnicity, religion, and language. However, they have been staying together peacefully for about several decades, and today they live like a single community sharing natural resources and culture ultimately leading to the path of cultural assimilation which is often undisguisable both in the administrative boundary. Resources sharing is mostly found in the use of rivers, forest raw materials, grazing fields, and other civic amenities such as schools, health services, etc. The geographical profile of Seajuli River is that it is one of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra River flowing from the hill to the plain of Assam passing through two culturally different societies. The river is used by both the plains and the hills for fishing, collection of driftwood for firewood, sand, shingle, and boulders for constructional purposes. Plain people collect minor forest products from Arunachal Pradesh. The foothill being greener, the cattle from Assam are allowed to cross the state boundary for grazing in the morning and driven back in the evening. People of Arunachal Pradesh sell surplus agricultural products in the local mandi located in Assam, especially in the weekly markets. They buy all the readymade items from Assam. Children of Assam also study in the school in Arunachal Pradesh. Same way, some children of Arunachal Pradesh also go to Assam school. For medical and health care purposes, the people of Arunachal Pradesh go to the Assam dispensary. Thus, the Inner Line Permit (ILP) does not strictly apply in these areas because the survivals of both communities depend on peaceful co-existence.