This Lok Sabha election has been different for the Bru community in Tripura as they took part in the electoral process for the first time a resident of Tripura. This comes after the Central Government’s way of resolving their 23-year-long problem of resettlement. Now they are hopeful about the government’s developmental and welfare policy for the future generations and the society.
Bru voter LP Reang at 40 cast his vote for the first time during the second phase of the Lok Sabha election in Tripura on Friday. His view resonated with the other voters from his community.
“We believe that they will facilitate more development for our future generations, society, and the welfare of the people. We are very happy that we no longer need to go to other places to cast our votes and can vote in our own village,” he added.
In the aftermath of ethnic violence, the Bru community fled to the North District of Tripura from Mizoram in October 1997. There are approximately 37,000 internally displaced Bru people, who are sheltered in six relief camps set up in Kanchanpur District of North Tripura.
A pact was signed between the Centre, Mizoram, Tripura, and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum or MBDPF for the permanent resettlement of Brus in Tripura on July 3, 2018. So far, 12 resettlement camps have been opened in Tripura for the permanent resettlement of Bru, where 17,524 are eligible voters.
Among these 12 resettlement camps, Bruhapara in Ambassa sub-division under Dhalai District, had 1,145 voters casting their votes for the first time for the Lok Sabha election at Haduklau Para English Medium SB School as Tripura residents which falls under East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency.
Karanjay Reang, who earns his living as daily wager, expressed satisfaction with casting their vote for the first time as a Tripura resident as well as with the basic facilities provided by the Centre and Tripura Government, including houses, water, ration and Aadhaar cards.
“Now we can say we are Indians and this is our democratic right. A voting centre has also been set up here in this village, and for that, we are happy,” he said.
MS John, another Bru voter, echoed similar sentiments, expressing happiness after casting his vote as residents of Tripura.
Mithuna Reang (23) recalled the challenges they went through while living in camps and casting votes in Mizoram and stated, “While living in camps, we had to go to Mizoram to cast our votes. However, we never received any facilities, schemes, or help for our Bru villages. Promises were made before the vote, but they were forgotten afterwards. Therefore, casting votes in Tripura is far better than in Mizoram. In our resettlement locations, we have received schools, Anganwadi centres, voter ID cards, and more, with the help of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Tripura government as per our agreement.”
