Pact to end Bru refugee crisis signed

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 16

A tripartite agreement to end the 23-year-old Bru refugee crisis was signed today to settle over 30,000 people belonging to 5,300 families of the community in Tripura where they migrated in 1997 from Mizoram following a tribal unrest.

The agreement to settle the Bru tribals — called Reangs in Tripura — was signed among Chief Secretaries of Mizoram, Tripura and representatives of Bru tribes here at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ North Block office in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

After signing of the agreement, Shah said under the pact, over 30,000 Bru tribals will live in Tripura permanently, as they have been staying in the state in different relief camps after they fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes between them and Mizo communities.

An agreement was also signed in July 2018 for repatriation of the Bru tribals to Mizoram, but it did not materialise as majority of the community members refused to go back. So far, only 328 families have returned and settled in Mizoram. “A 23-year-old problem, which has been lingering for so long, has reached its logical conclusion. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have been solving one after another complicated problem,” Shah said.

The Centre has announced a package of Rs 600 crore for the settlement of the Bru tribes in Tripura. Of the package, Rs 150 lakh will be given to Tripura Government for the land acquisition and the rest of the money will be spent for the welfare of the tribe. Shah also informed media that Bru refugees will get a 40 by 30 feet plot along with a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh for two years, cash assistance of Rs 5,000 per month for two years and free ration.

Noting that Mizoram and Tripura Governments will work towards the development of Bru families, Shah said, “They are presently living living in sub-human conditions in different camps, but now they can live in their own homes permanently. They will now live honourably.”

The Minister declared that an amount of Rs 1.5 lakh will be provided to each family of the Bru refugees to help them in constructing their own houses and that the amount will be disbursed under PM Gramin Awaas Yojana. Mizoram CM Zoramthanga, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma besides Tripura royal scion Pradyot Deb Barman were present at the event.