Memorable learnings across borders

The month of June is usually the time to look forward to the onset of the monsoon. It is a period of sowing, harvesting and also celebrating the arrival of the rains. But this time the arrival of the month was more eagerly awaited by me especially because of the Cross Border Exposure and Learning Trip to  Myanmar and Thailand which was from 15 June 2016 to 21 June 2016, and organised by the pioneering  Impulse NGO Network from Shillong, supported by Global Development Network. The tour was also to learn, liaison and interact primarily on Cross Border Human Trafficking which is rampant through North East India due to sharing of border with countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. After a hectic journey of changing 3 flights and a bus ride our arrival to Nay Pyi Taw was welcomed by the pleasant sights of impressive infrastructural developments and good public infrastructure. The hotel where we were staying was good and one could see that the organizers had left no stone left unturned to make the stay comfortable and warm.

The formal part of the programme was from the second day and the forenoon session was for Consultation on Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in addressing Cross Border Human Trafficking between Myanmar and India.

The representatives of Anti Trafficking in Person Division, Government of Myanmar were also present during the Consultation which was very well structured and set the pace for the remaining part of the day. The good part from the organisers part was that there were sufficient translators and multi lingual experts present to help the delegates and the Officials interact.

The Second day was more interesting for me personally as it dealt with actual use of the ICIC Software for the Myanmar Police and as we have been using the same software for solving many cases here it was therefore interesting to learn, interact and discuss on the practical and user part of the software.

The afternoons were structured by the organisers to visit and explore the city and therefore, were very enjoyable. The trip to Myawaddy, the Myanmar-Thai border town was a hard drive and a personal favourite of mine as it was a firsthand experience on issues related with trafficking and Policing in a border town. The Friendship Bridge was not only beautiful but for me it stood as a symbol of hope, pride and strength for the new Myanmar. The visit to Yangon was more spiritual for me as coming from a Buddhist state to a Buddhist city the presence of many Stupas especially the Shwedagon Pagoda was a blessing. We exited Myanmar from the city of Yangon however in my mind perhaps the tour could have been more interesting and may be more economical for the organisers to have entered from Myawaddy further down to Chiang Mai etc. Nevertheless we arrived again at Bangkok to start the Thai leg of the tour. The following day was left for exploring the city and the meeting with UNODC and Royal Thai Police was slated for the day after. I really enjoyed the meeting with the Anti Human Trafficking Division of Royal Thai Police as being a Police Officer myself, it was really interesting to see and hear about their experiences and suggestions. The meeting with the UNODC was also good. Overall the meetings and interactions were very fruitful and I personally have benefitted a lot and have gained more experience in understanding trafficking issues in the international scenario. On the whole the takeaway from the trip is many but the most memorable part of this trip was the time spent together as a team and the lengthy interactions we use to have in the journey on the bus, waiting for the flights and after dinner discussion. The bonding between the delegate team of Officers, NGOS, Lawyers and others was what I cherished the most in the tour. Above all the immense organisational and operational skill of the Impulse NGO Network has left a deep impact on me and I cannot help but give a standing ovation to them for this effort. From Myanmar YMCA - Youth Department Impulse Case Info Centre SU Myat Htet, Eve Nan,Nyein Nyein in Myanmar to Sanjeevan Debnath, Bari Bariphylla Lyttan, A.G.Kharbhih (Bahrit), Rosanna Lyngdoh, Emarine Kharbhih from Shillong. I am a richer woman in having made new friends and learned a lot from this experience. And at the end I must say that Ms. Hasina Kharbhih the Founder Chair of Impulse NGO Network is a treasure not only to Shillong but to the entire country and the world at large. Her selfless effort and unparalleled leadership is the inspiration even to Police Officers like me and I thank her for her care, guidance and love as a sister, teacher and an icon. Lastly, coming back to monsoon and a time to sow, I guess through this tour this monsoon; I sowed new bonding, new respect and new friendship. Thank you god for I love the magic of monsoon.