Historic Bru-Reang Refugee agreement signed-34,000 displaced to settle in Tripura

On January 17, 2020, Government of India, Bru-Reang representatives, Government of Tripura and Mizoram signed an agreement in New Delhi to end the refugee crisis of Bru-Reang community. Home Minister Amit Shah presided over the event.

Highlights

Under the agreement, around 34,000 Bru Refugees are to settle in Tripura. The Centre will offer their rehabilitation helps with an allocated budget of Rs 600 crores. With this, the refugees are now eligible to enjoy social welfare schemes of state and central governments.

According to the agreement, the displaced families are to be provided with land of 40 by 30 square feet. The land is to be provided by the Tripura Government. The Centre will provide aid of Rs 1.5 lakhs to build their houses. The Centre will also provide fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakhs and Rs 5,000 cash aid per month and free ration for 2 years.

What is the issue?

Due to ethnic tension in 1997, around 5,000 families of 30,000 Bru-Reang tribes were forced out of Mizoram to seek shelter in Tripura. In 2010, GoI began its efforts to permanently rehabilitate them as they constantly demanded to settle in Tripura. In 2018, GoI signed an agreement with the State Governments of Tripura and Mizoram in order to help the families and increase the aid substantially.

Bru-Reang Tribes

The Bru Tribes are locally called Reang and hence the name Bru-Reang. They are ethnic tribes living in India, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. They speak Katuic language. They believe in Animism religion and some others believe in Buddhism. The Bru-Reang are one of the 21 ethnic tribes of Tripura that are included int the Scheduled Tribe list. Some of them are Tibeto-Burmese origin.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2020