Aizawl: The Mizoram government has resorted to what it termed as “self-repatriation” approach to take back the Bru refugees languishing in dilapidated relief camps in North Tripura for 16 years.
A meeting of district level core committee on Bru repatriation and settlement at Mamit DC office on Tuesday chaired by Deputy Commissioner V Lalremthanga discussed the ‘self-repatriation’ exercise scheduled to begin from the last week of May.
The first phase of the “self-repatriation” is meant for genuine Mizoram citizens in Asapara and Naisingpara who are “willing” to return.
Five AEROs have been entrusted to conduct preliminary survey in the two camps to identify bonafide Mizoram citizens, an official source said.
The meeting said that three facilitation camps would be set up in Kanhmun, New Eden and Zomuantlang. But the meeting on Tuesday proposed to the third facilitation camp be set up at Sabual instead of Zomuantlang due to administrative and transportation conveniences.
Mizoram government’s core committee on refugee repatriation headed by parliamentary secretary for home Lalrinmawia Ralte has asked the district administration of the Mizoram’s Mamit district to finalise the schedule of the return after discussion with counterparts in Tripura.
Official sources said the Union Home Ministry has asked the Mizoram to re-start the stalled rehabilitation of refugees, in coordination with Tripura.
The issue was also taken up at the chief ministers’ meeting with Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in New Delhi last month.
According to an official report of the Union Home Ministry, the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 17.86 crore to the Mizoram government during the past two years for the rehabilitation of refugees in their original areas in Mamit district, western Mizoram. (UNI)
