Hmarkhawlien, Decmeber 5: The Surrendered Cachar Hill People’s Federation (SCHPF) on Monday asked the Government of Assam to keep its part of the peace deal by providing compensation to the 417 former militants.
In a letter to the Chief Minister of Assam, the SCHPF said that the hill traibes in Barak valley of Chachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi do not enjoy the status and facilities enjoyed by other Scheduled tribes in other parts of Assam.
“Deprived of all the safeguards and protections guaranteed by the Constitution of India, Hmars and other minorities such as Chiru, Chakma, Gangte, Hrangkhol, Karbi, Khasi, Kuki, Mizo, Naga, Paite, Riang, Simte and Vaiphei have been demanding recognition as Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the last sixty years or so. But there was no concrete response from the government,” SCHPF said in a statement.
It may be noted that a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between the armed CHPF and the Government of Assam was signed on March 18, 1996. However, after laying down their arms and ammunitions, Assam government did not provide the “Surrender Package” that includes compensation, relief and rehabilitation to the surrendered CHPF militants.
The full text of the press release is given below- Editor, Inpui.com
Office of the
SURRENDERED CACHAR HILL PEOPLE’S FEDERATION (SCHPF)
Head Office: Chikhur-Lobonkhal,Cachar, Barak Valley, Assam
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Ref. No. 15/2/2011 Date: 15/12/2011
To
The Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Government of Assam,
Dispur
{Through: The Hon’ble Minister, WPT & BC Department (Outside BTAD), Government of Assam, Dispur}
Sub : Regarding the “Surrender Policy” of the government of Assam and prayer for surrender package to provide compensation, relief and rehabilitation to surrendered armed CHPF militants there-of
Sir,
The Hill Tribes in the Barak Valley of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi are just minorities without any status as the Scheduled Tribes as their kindred tribes in other parts of Assam.
Deprived of all the safeguards and protections guaranteed by the Constitution of India, Hmars and other minorities such as Chiru, Chakma, Gangte, Hrangkhol, Karbi, Khasi, Kuki, Mizo, Naga, Paite, Riang, Simte and Vaiphei have been demanding recognition as Scheduled Tribes (STs) for the last sixty years or so. But there was no concrete response from the government.
No longer able to bear the wilful negligence and discrimination of the government, the hill tribes in the plains of Cachar led by Hmars took the initiative and launched a political movement through the Cachar Hill People’s Federation (CHPF) in the early 1990s.
As the CHPF movement gained momentum and assumed violent characteristics, negotiations soon followed resulting in the signing of a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between the armed CHPF and the government of Assam on March 18, 1996.
And with regard to the 417 armed Cachar Hill People’s Federation (CHPF) militants laying down their arms and ammunitions, it was agreed by the signatories that government of Assam would work on a Surrender Package to provide compensation, relief and rehabilitation to the surrendered CHPF militants.
The sober reality, however, is that the surrendered CHPF is yet to receive “Surrender Package” from the state government. Nor have our relief and rehabilitation been taken care of and surrendered armed CHPF militants properly considered for nomination as members in the Barak Valley Hill Tribes’ Development Council (BVHTDC) during the last fourteen years.
That Sir, the policies regulating the surrender of armed militants are open policies of the government to encourage militants to come over-ground eschewing the path of violence.
The state government spent crores of rupees to rehabilitate surrendered militants in the state by giving them accommodation, cash to buy their essential commodities and other facilities over the last decade or so.
However, the 417 surrendered CHPF militants who are now living in horrendous circumstances have not been given the same facilities despite being “surrendered militants”.
Why should the surrendered armed CHPF militants be not treated at par with the surrendered Bodo (BLT) or Dimasa (DHD-J) militants in terms of access to compensation, relief and rehabilitation? Surrendered armed CHPF, therefore, demands that the government review its surrender policy in respect of the erstwhile CHPF militants.
The surrendered CHPF militants are entitled to the following schemes:
1. 100 percent Margin Money Scheme: The government of Assam must provide margin money of Rs. 50,000 each to the surrendered CHPF militants for rehabilitation and banks and financial institutions be asked to offer loan upto a limit of Rs. 1.5 lakhs to each surrendered CHPF militant against government guarantee.
2. Surrender-cum-Vocational Scheme: Vocational training be imparted to all the surrendered CHPF militants.
3. Good Behavior Assistance to Surrendered Militants Scheme: The government must provide a financial assistance of Rs. 2.5 lakh per surrendered CHPF militant (to be paid after ten years of good behavior) for their rehabilitation.
4. Surrendered CHPF Welfare Scheme: At least 10% of the budgeted amount prepared by BVHTDC be set aside annually for the welfare of the surrendered CHPF militants.
That Sir, the BVHTDC at times get embroiled in controversies but the re-constituted dispensation still remains the best suited for the hill tribes living in the plains of Barak Valley as the present dispensation is pre-occupied with the on-going developmental activities meant for the welfare of the Hill Tribes in Barak Valley.
Therefore, the suggestion put forward by a section of the people for re-constitution of the existing Council is of little importance to the ethnic hill tribes and the surrendered armed CHPF militants.
That Sir, future attempts at social cohesiveness and the maintenance of peace in the three Barak Valley districts greatly depend upon the way the CHPF Package is tackled in coming days.
We would extend all help to verify on the genuineness of CHPF militants laying down their arms even as the surrender package is being worked to provide compensation, relief and rehabilitation to surrendered CHPF militants.
With thanks and anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
(THANGA HMAR) President
(LALDITLIEN ) Secretary
Surrendered CHPF, Surrendered CHPF,
Barak Valley, Assam Barak Valley, Assam
Copy forwarded to:
1. Hon’ble Minister, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Government of Assam, Dispur for information and sympathetic action.
2. Hon’ble Minister, Excise and Youth and Sports Affairs, Government of Assam, Dispur for information and sympathetic action.
3. Secretary and Commissioner, Home Department, Govt. of Assam for kind information and necessary action.
4. Secretary and Commissioner, WPT & BC Department, Govt. of Assam for kind information and necessary action.
5. Director-General of Police, Assam for kind information and necessary action.
6. Inspector-General of Police (A), Assam for kind information.
7. Inspector-General of Police (Special Branch), Assam for kind information.
8. Deputy Inspector-General (Southern Range), Silchar for kind information and necessary action.
9. SP, Cachar. He is requested to make arrangement to prevent any untoward incident over the issue.
10. SP, Karimganj. He is requested to make arrangement to prevent any untoward incident over the issue.
11. SP, Hailakandi. He is requested to make arrangement to prevent any untoward incident over the issue.
12. Hon’ble MLA, Borkhola Constituency, Cachar, Assam for information.
13. Hon’ble MLA, Lakhipur Constituency, Cachar, Assam for information.
14. Hon’ble MLA, Sonai Constituency, Cachar, Assam for information.
15. President, Hmar Inpui General Headquarters, Churachandpur, Manipur for information.
16. President, HSA General Hqtrs, Churachandpur, Assam
17. Office File for record
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