Shah presides over signing of Historic Agreement to end Bru-Reang Refugee Crisis

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the signing of an agreement between Government of India, Governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and Bru-Reang representatives in New Delhi  on January 16, 2020, to end the 23-year old Bru-Reang refugee crisis.

Present on the occasion were Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga, CM of Tripura Biplab Kumar Deb, Chairman, NEDA,  Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chairman, TIPRA, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, representatives of Bru tribes, and senior officers.

This historic agreement is in line with PM Narendra Modi’s vision for the progress of the North East and the empowerment of the people of the region. Ever since taking office, PM Modi has initiated several policy level interventions that have improved infrastructure, connectivity, economic growth, tourism, and social development of the region.

Briefing the media, Shah said that under the dynamic leadership of PM Narendra Modi a permanent solution has been arrived at to this long standing issue of rehabilitating thousands of Bru-Reang people in Tripura and they can now look towards a bright future. Under the new agreement, Shah informed, around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura and would be given aid from the Centre to help in their rehabilitation and all round development through a package of around Rs 600 crore. These people would get all the rights that normal residents of the States get and would now be able to enjoy the benefits of social welfare schemes of Centre and State governments.

The settlement has been reached after detailed discussions held by Union government with the State governments of Mizoram and Tripura and the representatives of Bru tribes, Shah added.

The Home Minister informed that under the new arrangement each of the displaced families would be given 40×30 sq.ft. residential plots in addition to the aid under earlier agreement of a fixed deposit of Rs. 4 lakh, Rs. 5,000 cash aid per month for 2 years, free ration for 2 years, and Rs. 1.5 lakhs aid to build their house. The government of Tripura would provide the land under this agreement, according to a PIB release.

Shah mentioned about how the North East is being put on the track of fast paced development under the leadership of PM Modi. He talked about the recent surrender of 88 armed insurgents of the NLFT (SD) group and assimilating them into the mainstream. This major step, along with the Bru-Reang agreement on January 16, 2020, is important milestones in bringing fast paced development to the State of Tripura.

In 1997, following ethnic tension, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru-Reang tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur, in North Tripura. Since 2010, the Government of India has been making sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Union government has been assisting the two State governments in taking care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru-Reang families had returned to Mizoram in different batches.

On  July 3, 2018, an agreement was signed between the Union government, the two State governments, and representatives of Bru-Reang refugees, as a result of which the aid given to these families was increased substantially. Subsequently, 328 families comprising 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under the agreement. There had been a sustained demand of most Bru-Reang families that they may be allowed to settle down in Tripura considering their apprehensions about their security.