LP Reang, a 40-year-old Bru voter who cast his first vote for the Lok Sabha election in Tripura first time on Friday, is hopeful that the way the Government of India has resolved their 23-year-long problem will pave the way for more development for future generations and the welfare of society.
Following alleged ethnic violence, the Bru community fled to the North District of Tripura from Mizoram in October 1997. The number of Bru internally displaced people sheltered in six relief camps set up in Kanchanpur District of North Tripura is approximately 37,000.
On July 3, 2018, an agreement was signed between the Centre, Mizoram, Tripura, and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF) for the permanent resettlement of Brus in Tripura. 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, located in Ambassa sub-division under Dhalai District, had 1145 voters casting their votes for the first time for the Lok Sabha election at Haduklau Para English Medium S.B. School as Tripura residents which falls under East (ST) Parliamentary Constituency.
Speaking with India Today NE, Karanjay Reang expressed their satisfaction with casting their vote for the first time in the Lok Sabha election as a Tripura resident.
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"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.
Reang, who is a daily wager, mentioned their contentment with the facilities provided by the Government of India and Tripura government, including homes, water, ration cards, and Aadhaar cards.
Meanwhile, M S John echoed similar sentiments, expressing happiness after casting their vote as residents of Tripura.
Additionally, 23-year-old Mithuna Reang recalled the challenges they faced while living in camps and casting votes in Mizoram.
"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," Mithuna stated.
Furthermore, L P Reang, 40 years old, expressed the Bru people's belief in the Government of India and the Government of Tripura to bring prosperity to them.
"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.