AGARTALA, Aug 1 (TIWN): Union Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a 7 – member committee to look into the deplorable condition of Bru refugees lodged in the relief camps of Tripura’s North District. This was stated by Swapan Saha, Secretary of Revenue and Rehabilitation on Friday. Speaking to reporters at civil secretariat he said that Rajiv Gauba, Additional Secretary of MHA is the chairman of the committee, they are schedule to visit the relief camps before August 31st . The committee was formed in pursuance of the direction of High Court of Tripura in their judgement on June 24 last. The High Court told the committee to submit the report in September next. The impasse over Bru repatriation had a tell-tale toll on thousands of camp inmates.

While death stalks the six camps in the form of gastro enteritis, hepatitis, measles etc especially when the dry spell sets in, Bru children- disease stricken and suffering chronic malnutrition- was a pathetic sight. Worst, an entire new generation among these camp inmates were coming up bereft of any education. A child who was born in 1997 would now be 13 years old and he did not have any proper education. 

“The old Bru families who had come in late nineties were provided ration as per the fixed categories. The fund is provided by the centre. But for the new migrants, who came here in 2009, the expenditure is borne by Tripura government. Their ration is only rice and salt. Nothing else. They are indeed in a pathetic condition", said Mr. Saha