Bru refugees just weeks away from Mizo homes
The Brus, also known as the Reangs, are spread across Tripura, Assam, Manipur and Mizoram. In Mizoram, they are restricted to Mamit and Kolasib.
Guwahati: The Centre has set a window of one month in September to complete the repatriation of nearly 33,000 Bru refugees from Tripura to their home in Mizoram.
In 1997, a bout of ethnic violence had forced thousands of people from the Bru tribe to leave their homes in Mizoram. Since they are languishing in six relief camps across Tripura.
However, several attempts to relocate them to their native place had failed to complete the relocation. The Centre, the state governments of Tripura and Mizoram and the representative body of the refugees, the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF) have signed an agreement recently to complete the process.
Though, repatriation of refugees from Tripura has been a major challenge, the Union home ministry has made clear this time that the refugee camps in Tripura will be closed after the one-month repatriation window is over.
The MBDPF pointed out that rehabilitation package includes cash assistance of Rs 5,000 per month per family for two years, housing assistance of Rs 1,50,000 for each family, free ration for two years, utensils and blankets worth Rs 3,500 for each family.
“At the meeting, the home ministry officials told us that the supply of ration and all financial support will stop from the first week of October. Anyone who chooses to not go back to Mizoram will be on his own after September 30,” general secretary of MBDPF Bruno Msha, said
However, a section of Bru refugees are also said to have opened a new front by opposing the repatriation process while pushing for a new deal for resettlement.
The MBDPF leader said, “While the officials said they can modify parts of the agreement, they were firm that it cannot be changed. So, the Centre has agreed to pay 80 per cent of the financial assistance of `4 lakh for each family before it is repatriated. The remaining 20 per cent will be deposited in fixed deposits.”
The Mizoram government had offered to start the repatriation process by August 14. The Centre, however, rejected the plan, citing some formalities that were yet to be completed by the Tripura government. The team also reiterated that the Election Commission will start updating the Mizoram voters’ list to include eligible Bru voters soon after the process is over.