Tripura unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the state government’s decision for providing Antodaya ration cards to 6,959 Bru families, who are being permanently resettled in Tripura ending a long issue.
MLA and Janajati Morcha leader Rampada Jamatia held a press conference at BJP state office on Saturday and welcomed the government’s decision.
Jamatia also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb for ending the long-pending Bru rehabilitation issue after 23 years. He also thanked Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for announcing a Rs. 1300-crore project for development of Tribal areas.
“Only rehabilitation is not enough. They need food, income source too. Keeping this view in mind, our Chief Minister discussed the issue with the Home Minister in New Delhi on Aug 1 last and placed a proposal for issuing Antodaya cards to the Bru people,” the Janajati morcha leader said.
The Home Minister, in his meeting with the Chief Minister on Wednesday last, took a thorough review of the Bru rehabilitation process.
According to sources, the proposal for issuing Antodaya cards to the Bru families was accepted by the Home Minister instantly.
Meanwhile, the Antodaya cards would benefit around 37,136 members of 6,959 Brus families—they would get 35 kg rice per card for Rs. 2/ kg. Besides, the members of such families would get 5 kg rice each free of cost.
As per the quadripartite agreement, the permanent Bru rehabilitation process is making good progress in 14 identified locations of the state.
Over 30,000 Bru Reang people had fled Mizoram due to the ethnic tension around 24 years ago and took shelter in seven relief camps in North Tripura district.
After long trouble, finally, the historic quadripartite agreement was signed between the Government of Tripura, Government of Mizoram, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the representatives of Bru refugees on April 13 last. As per the agreement, the Centre sanctioned Rs. 600 crore as rehabilitation package for the displaced Brus as a final solution to the problem.
(Pic from Internet)
