Union home ministry on Thursday inked a tripartite agreement paving the way for permanent settlement of over 30,000 displaced Brus in Tripura.
The Brus from Mizoram have been living as refugees in Tripura since 1997.
A tripartite agreement was signed by representatives of Bru, the Centre and Mizoram government in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi at North Block.
Under the pact, over 30,000 Bru tribals will live in Tripura permanently, Shah said.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has approved a Rs 600 crore package for this purpose.
“Bru refugees will get a 40 by 30 feet plot along with a fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakhs, cash assistance of Rs 5000 per month for two years and free ration,” he said.
Welcoming the decision, Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said that this is a welcome and historic agreement.
“With this agreement Bru crisis has been resolved and at the same time there will be no political tussle between Mizoram and Tripura government,” said Zoramthanga.
The Reang refugees were earlier living in Mizoram and the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh.
It was in 1997; they left their places and took shelter in Tripura following a communal tension.
“We have decided to settle the Reang refugees in our state. They were deprived of their basic rights and other amenities…they were living in subhuman condition in refugee camps, but now with the bold decision taken by home minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi they will be settled in Tripura,” said Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb.
