SUMIR KARMAKAR
Guwahati, Oct. 31: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Tripura government to provide birth certificates to around 3,500 children living in seven relief camps for Bru refugees in North Tripura district.
It has also asked the government to take steps to ensure healthcare, education and safety of the children living in the camps.
The instructions come following the visit of a two-member team of the commission, comprising Vinod Kumar Tikoo, a member, and Paresh Shah, a senior technical expert, on October 25 and 26.
“We have asked the administration to provide birth certificates to those who were born in the relief camps. After all, they are citizens of India and the administration has agreed to do so as early as possible,” Tikoo told The Telegraph here.
Over 37,000 Brus from Mizoram have been living in seven relief camps in Tripura since they were left displaced by ethnic conflict with the Mizos in 1997.
The Mizoram Bru Displaced Forum, an organisation fighting for the refugees, complained to the NCPCR team that the inmates, including children, were struggling for survival, as the administration was not providing them with facilities like proper food, schools and healthcare. They said many children were not given birth certificates, necessary for school admission and repatriation.
“We have asked the forum to submit a list of children who were born in the relief camps. Besides, there are no formal schooling facilities after Class V and children were seen loitering. We have asked the administration to set up Anganwadi centres and schools as education is now a right of every child,” Tikoo said.
Forum president Sawibunga told this correspondent over phone that they have been fighting for proper food, healthcare and education but the camp inmates were being neglected. “Even financial assistance of Rs 600 to pregnant women inmates has now been stopped as they don’t have Aadhar cards and bank accounts. Banks are also not allowing them to open accounts without the documents.”
The NCPCR team said they had asked the administration to allow the camp inmates to open bank accounts as the RBI had issued instructions to allow basic savings account for all, including minors.
Tikoo had met Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday and urged him to take steps to prevent child trafficking. “We want separate anti-trafficking cells and juvenile police units to tackle the crime. Most of the steps taken so far are confined to paper. We want practical measures.”
Camps: 7 (Maisingpara, Ashapara, Kaskau, Hazachhera, Hamsa, Khakchang, Naisaupara)
Inmates: Around 37000
Children: More than 3500
SSA schools: 78
Repatriated: 3300 to Mizoram since 2009
Source: Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum