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Resolve contentious refugee issue: Khandu to Centre
Itanagar,
Feb
1:
Apprehending
serious
threats
to
the
indigenous
population
of
Arunachal
Pradesh
in
the
near
future
following
the
presence
of
large
number
of
Chakma
and
Hajong
refugees,
Chief
Minister
Dorjee
Khandu
has
urged
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
for
constituting
a
high
level
committee
to
find
a
lasting
solution
to
the
vexed
issue.
Submitting a memorandum to Dr Singh at Indira Gandhi Park here yesterday, the chief minister pointed out that during the last four and half decades the issue had been the matter of simmering discontent among the indigenous tribals of the state. The chief minister added that ''If the present trend is allowed to continue, the ethnic population will soon be reduced to a minority.''
The chief minister lamented that over the years focus had shifted from 'cultural identity' of the indigenous tribal community of the state to the 'human rights' of Chakma and Hajong refugees. The memorandum, a copy of which was made available to the press also demanded for immediate solution to boundary dispute between Arunachal and Assam.
Non-settlement of boundary dispute is hurting the cause of socio-economic development of border villages in both side of the boundary, the chief minister pointed out in his address.
The other demands of the memorandum submitted by the state government include: relaxation of norms for implementation of Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the state; relaxation of the condition of providing state matching shares against centrally sponsored schemes; one time financial assistance for construction of porter tracks, mule tracks and foot suspension bridges in border areas and establishment of Arunachal Scouts.
The memorandum also demanded establishment of state power grid; establishment of a medical and law college; reopening of border trade with neighbouring South East Asian countries; modernisation of state police; construction of road from Parsuram Kund to Arrwa; cadastral survey and digitised topo-sheet data in respect of the state and upgradation of media infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh.
UNI
