Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has stated that people from Myanmar, Manipur, Bangladesh in large numbers are staying in the state with the Government facing a huge humanitarian and financial burden.
Lalduhama told reporters the number of those uprooted from their homes in the state is also fluctuating in tune with the developments along the borders. Some come back to their homes, others continue to come to Mizoram.
As for the people who are staying in Mizoram, the state does not sign the Refugee Protocol, so it can be called as “displaced persons”, the Chief Minister explained.
There are thousands in Myanmar and several thousand Bangladeshi people who have taken shelter in the state. The government has identified them under the biometric identification system and is assisting them in various ways, including providing them food and shelter, Lalduhoma said. Some assistance is being provided to their children in education as well.
This would depend on the political climate in their home countries, Lalduhoma said. The state must continue to be hospitable to them until they are able to come back, he said. He continued that they don’t currently receive permanent citizenship, but humanitarianism makes it hard to turn them away.
A discussion in the context of opposition to the fencing of the borders by Mizoram was also held. Political parties and non-governmental organisations in the state do not want to be opposed as the Mizo people have some ethnic and cultural ties in India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
He stated that in British times the community was split among three Nations, and that many still aspire to unity, under a common administrator.
Lalduhoma also emphasised the financial constraints of his government, having said that his government had a huge committed outstanding liability that had been left by the outgoing government. That has led to the government implementing measures to ease the burden, such as cuts to the facilities made available to ministers, legislators and officials.
The state is still grappling with assistance for the displaced and efforts to keep its finances in control and has continued to rely on developments along the borders for the long term.