Mizo's Brus demand 10 pc reservation in govt jobs

Aizawl, Apr 16: The Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples' Forum (MBDP) have demanded ten per cent reservation in state government jobs for the ''displaced'' Brus in the state.

During a bilateral meeting with Home Commissioner C Ropianga here yesterday, MBDP leaders insisted that since the Brus are the minority community in the state they should be given some reservatiion.

The MBDP had also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Zoramthanga in this regard, but the government is yet to respond.

Mr Ropianga said, ''Even if the government agrees for the reservation, it should be based on mutual agreement and not in black and white.'' He is reportedly of the opinion that there is no need for reservation for Brus are also tribals like Mizos.

The meeting was a follow-up to the March 12 meeting with state chief secretary Haukhum Hauzel in New Delhi during the NE Business Summit.

During the meeting Mr Hauzel had clarified that state has no objection to repatriate the Bru refugees, who are the true citizens of Mizoram.

However, the state government had declined the ''displaced'' Brus' proposal of a four-cornered talk on the repatriation issue,including the Home ministry, MBDP and Tripura government, on grounds that, as it's an issue of the Mizoram state, there is no need for others' involvement.

The MBDP activists said Brus, being backward people, face lo of difficulity in 'survival' while competiting with the 'advanced' Mizos.

They further stated that Brus have immensely contributed to make Mizoram the most literate state.

Besides, the Brus have also demanded a special committee to look after them after they get repatriated to Mizoram.

''We want to be grouped in specified villages unlike the past when we used to live in small villages with only 30-40 houses. Living in such small villages can become an obstacle to development,'' the MBDP leaders said.

UNI