Bru community meets Guv, demands for timely aid, English school, land rights

The Bru displaced community, who has found permanent resettlement in four districts of Tripura, convened with Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu to present a comprehensive nine-point charter of demands, aimed at furthering their resettlement process. Among their key requests are the establishment of English medium schools, land allotment, and timely provision of aid.

In their memorandum, the Bru people acknowledged the efforts of the Government of India and Tripura in facilitating their permanent resettlement following the quadripartite agreement signed in New Delhi. While expressing gratitude for the basic amenities provided, such as housing assistance, infrastructure development, and social services like Anganwadi centers, they underscored several areas requiring attention for their sustained welfare.

Central to their demands is the completion of land registration in the name of family heads, ensuring the timely transfer of monthly cash assistance of Rs. 5000, and allocating agricultural land to each family for their sustenance beyond the initial two-year aid period. Additionally, they advocate for the establishment of government English medium schools and Ekalavya Model Residential Schools to enhance educational opportunities for the Bru youth.

Highlighting the need for sustainable resources in resettlement areas, the memorandum calls for the implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, including old-age pensions, tailored to the needs of the Bru settlement locations. Furthermore, they emphasize the necessity of specific initiatives targeting particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) within the Bru community.

In closing, the Bru community appeals to the Governor to carefully consider their outlined demands, stressing the significance of addressing these issues for their successful integration and livelihood in Tripura.

The Bru displacement traces back to the ethnic violence in western Mizoram in October 1997, which led to the migration of numerous Bru (Reang) families to North Tripura district. Over the years, approximately 30,000 individuals, constituting around 5,000 families, sought refuge in six relief camps in Kanchanpur district. Subsequently, on 3rd July 2018, a landmark agreement was brokered among the Centre, Government of Mizoram, Tripura, and Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) to secure the permanent resettlement of Bru people in Tripura.