PRESS RELEASE

10/03/2015 16:11

        Tripura Chakma Students’ Association

Abhoynagar, Agartala, Tripura(W)

Press release

The Chakma National council of India(CNCI) & Tripura Chakma Students’ Association has jointly organized a press conference on 3^rd Oct,2015 at Agartala Press club at 3.00 Pm  regarding the Citizenship issue of the Chakmas and Hajang of Arunachal Pradesh and various issues of the Chakma in Tripura . In the Press Conference  there was Er. Aniruddha Chakma, President , Chakma National Council of India & Tripura Chakma Students’ Association , Sri Prakash Chakma , joint general Secretary, TCSA ,Sri, Hiramay Chakm , Execute Member, TCSA, Sri Bijoy Kanti Chakma, Executive Member, TCSA, Miss. Suchona Chakma,Executive Member, TCSA.and others TCSA member were remain present in the Conference Hall.

Arunachal Pradesh

      The Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh had migrated to India in 1964 from the Chitagong Hiltract(CHT).  The Kaptai hydel power project was billed by East Pakistan Government during the year 1956 to 1964. The vast lake created by dam, displaced one hundred thousand mostly Chakma population. The Government of India all migrated Chakmas was rehabilitated the Chakmas in the North East Frontier Agency(NEFA), now Arunachal Paradesh. As per official record about 15,000(fifteen thousand) Chakmas were steeled and some plot of land also allotted, even the Central Government had sanctioned as assistance@4200/-per family.  At present the Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh population is around 85,000(Eighty five Thousand). The Chakmas of Arunachal Pradesh status is still have not achieving Citizenship of India and suffering lot of  problems, unparliamentarily deprived by the State Government of Arunachal

Pradesh, have not enjoyed the basic fundamental right, like – education right, medical facilities, rations & foods rights, trade and business.

         In this regard, it is noteworthy that the Seventh of the Committee on Petitions(Ten Loksabha), the 105^thPetition Committee Report on Rajya Sabha  has recommended the Central Government is keen to grant the Citizenship to the Chakmas and Hajangs refugees, but the Government of Arunachal Pradesh are reluctant to provide them basic facilities and Citizenship.

      Moreover, it is also mentioned that as per judgment (In written Petition(Civil)No.720 of 1995, dated 09-01-1996) of the Supreme Court of India the Chakmas and Hajong of Arunachal Pradesh are eligible for Citizenship of India and again the Supreme Court of India given Judgment on 19^th Oct,2015, the Citizenship should be issued the Chakmas and Hajangs of the Arunachal Pradesh within three month.

         The Chakma Nation Council of India(CNCI) & Tripura Chakma Students’ Association has been places  the following  viewpoints  in regarding the Chakma s and Hajongs Community in the Arunachal Pradesh State as under:

1. According to Judgment of the Supreme Court of India, the Arunachal Pradesh Government should be issued the Citizenship within three month to the Chakmas and Hajongs community.  It is also essential as humanitarian views.
2. So, the “ Chakma Nation Council of India(CNCI) & Tripura Chakma Students’ Association “ are cordially requesting to  All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union the Citizenship issue of the Chakmas & Hajang, it shall take step in humanitarian views and to need honor the Recommendation of Rajyo Sabha & Lok Shobha  of the Parliament of India and Judgment of Supreme Court of India.
3. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh should provide all basic fundamental right and facilities.

Tripura

      Tripura is a small state in the Northeast India. There are 19(nineteen) tribal communities in this state. As per population census report of 2011, out of total 11.66813 lakhs tribal population in the state, the Chakma community consisted around 1.15 lakhs. It was declared then as the forth largest community among the 19^th ST communities in term of numerical strength. It continues to occupy the same position. The Chakma community possesses its own language, culture and traditional dress. The most interesting things is that perhaps it the only ST community in the state that has it own scripts.

      However, despite being the fourth largest community with its own culture, tradition and scripts, the community continues to remain alienated politically, culturally and economically. In the political field, the community, despite being the fourth largest community, it remains hardly represented to both the Tripura Bidhan Sabha and the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council(TTAADC).

        Every community has a right to receive education in its mother tongue and with its own scripts. In this regard, the government of Tripura has introduced the Chakma language and Scripts (single subject in every Class) in primary level of education without appointment any teacher. Even, what is surprising is that the Chakma Language subject marks can not evaluate in mark sheet as yet.

        It is to mention that the “Rajya Sabha Petition Committee on the problems of the Indian Chakma of Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh” submitted its 105^th Report to the Rajya Sabha on 14^th August, 1997. The Committee in its report recommended in close of  46(Forty Six) that Special schemes be launched for the overall upliftment of the Indian Chakmas in Tripura. The central Government should also provide adequate financial assistance to Government of Tripura for the purpose. The Government of Tripura must ensure safety and security of Indian

Chakmas in the State. But surprisingly, the state Government did not take any step with regard to implementation of the recommendations of the aforesaid Rajya Sabha Petition. Therefore, the Chakma community continues to remain deprived in all fields.

         The The Chakma Nation Council of India(CNCI) & Tripura Chakma Students’ Association has been places  the following demands for over all development of the Chakma Community in the Tripura sate as under:

1. To implement the recommendation of the 105^th Report of the Rajya Sabha Petition of 14^th August,1997.
2. As a means of more decentralization of power, a Chakma Development Board may be formed in Tripura with the a Chakma representative at the top decision making level. The Commission may make useful recommendation to the Honorable President of India in this regard.
3. To appoint of Chakma Language and other minority language teacher for smooth teaching of the mother language subject and evaluations in the state of Tripura the Central Government may give useful direction to the State Government in this regard.
4. The Chakma programme should get a place and be broadcasted daily in the Doordarsan Kendra of Northeast(Guwahati) and Agartala.
5. The commission may also make useful recommendations for better representation of the Chakmas community in the Legislative Assembly of Tripura and the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council(TTAADC).

Dated: 3/10/2015                                                                                              Yours’ Sincerely

Place :    Agartala, Tripura(W)

                                                                                                                       Er. Aniruddha Chakma

                                                                                                                                   President

                                                                                                     Chakma National Council of India, New Delhi

                                                                                                                                       &

                                                                                                 Tripura Chakma Student’ Association,  Agartala.

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