July 03, 2018: A meeting had been convened today Union Home Minister with Chief Minister, Tripura and the Chief Minister, Mizoram on the issue of repatriation of Bru displaced persons. The meeting was attended by Home Secretary, Chief Secretary, Tripura, Principal Secretary, Home Mizoram and other senior officers of MHA and State Governments. The draft agreement for repatriation of the displaced Bru Refugees had already been circulated by M1-1A.
This was discussed in details and thereafter consensus was reached on the Agreement to be signed between Government of India, Government of Mizoram and Tripura and Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF). This is a historic occasion as after almost 22 years, the displaced the Bru Refugees would be repatriated to Mizoram before 30th September, 2018 and all temporary camps in North Tripura would be closed in the first week of October, 2018. This marks a major achievement of the Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Tripura.
The Agreement was signed by Chief Secretary, Government of Tripura, Principal Secretary (Home), Govt. of Mizoram, Special Secretary (IS), MHA and President MBDPF in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief Minister of Tripura and Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla.
The main elements of the rehabilitation package in the repatriation would be as follows:
- Each family will be given on time Financial Assistance for Rehabilitation of Rupees 4 Lakh (Rupees Fourt Lakh only) to be kept in Fixed Deposit in the name of the head of the family within one month of its repatriation. The money will remain in Fixed Deposit for Two Years and the money will be given to the family on its having lived continuously in Mizoram for three years.
- Each family will be given Rupees 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand only) per month as Cash Assistance for a period of Two Years from the date of repatriation.
- The cash assistance will be provided through DBT.
- Each family will be given Rupees One Lakh and Fifty Thousand for House Building Assistance. This will be disbursed in three instalments: Rs 25,000 at the time of repatriation, Rs 50,000 on completion of 50% of House Construction and the remaining Rs.75,000 on the completion of House.
- Each person repatriating will be given Free Ration for two years at the present rate applicable.
- Each family will get Free Transportation to be arranged by Government of Mizoram. The agreed cost of Transportation will be reimbursed to Government of Mizoram by MHA.
In addition the Government of India would also endeavour to address some other suggestions made by the displaced Brus. A Monitoring Committee under Special Secretary (IS) MHA with representatives of Government of Mizoram and Tripura and representatives Bru peoples has been constituted to coordinate implementation of the Agreement. The Hon’ble Home Minister lauded efforts of the Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Tripura, Officials of MHA, Officials of both State Governments and representatives of the Bru peoples who made this momentous Agreement possible. Hon’ble Chief Minister, Tripura profusely thanked Hon’ble Home Minister for his initiative in making this significant achievement possible.
