SHILLONG: The All Dimasa Students Union, Dima Hasao district, has raised concerns over the state government’s proposal to build a detention camp in the district and its subtle move to introduce panchayat system in the sixth schedule area.
Members of the organisation met Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner Amitabh Rajkhowa on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum opposing the decision to set up a detention camp for those left out of the NRC list, its president Uttam Langthasa told The Shillong Times on phone.
“We have come to know that a detention camp will come up in the district. We are strongly against it. If they become eligible for voting then it will be a problem for the local people,” added Langthasa.
The organisation set the example of Karbi Anglong district to strengthen its argument against the proposed detention camp. “… the refugee families have become 21 per cent of majority in today’s Member of Autonomous Council/Member of Legislative Assembly/Member of Parliament election in Karbi Anglong district,” the letter pointed out.
A senior government official said more than 300 detention camps will come up in all the districts and each camp will have a capacity of 3,000 detainees. “The government has asked to identify land for the camp. The process is on. The union has expressed apprehensions. I will forward the memorandum to the government that will take a decision,” he said, adding that some of the districts will have multiple camps whereas Dima Hasao will have one.
The students’ union also raised the issue of “introduction of panchayati raj” in the district. “There is an effort to introduce related schemes in the district… government officials are also being trained for panchayat system,” alleged Langthasa.
Dima Hasao is under the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council.
But the senior official said these are rumours and it is “possible only if the Constitution is amended.
