Arunachal: NGO distributes relief items to Laika-Dodiya flood victims

 | 

ITANAGAR: The Adi Mishing Baane Kebang (AMBK) of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, distributed relief items to over 1,500 people at the relief camp near the Deputy Commissioner’s Office at Tinsukia in Assam on Sunday.

AMBK general-secretary Okom Yosung said, “50 bags of rice, two bags of salt and other items like pulses, were distributed to the needy Mishing brethren at a temporary relief camp at Tinsukia.”

“The government of Assam needs to keep the promises made to Laika-Dodiya flood and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park dispersed and affected people to whom Assam government had assured to resettle in a better place like Jagun and Digboi areas under the same Tinsukia district,” Yosung said.

Notably, the 1950 earthquake victims from Romoria near Dibrugarh migrated from Murkong Selek in Assam.

However, the forest department later declared the areas as Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve in 1986 and the same was notified as National Park to present Dibru-Saikhowa National Park during 1999.

Therefore, people living in these areas were denied necessities as there has been no provision of public settlement in a National Park.

“The people (who) settled inside the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park were facing the hardship of basic needs like medical facilities, education, road and other infrastructures needed. But despite several petitions and appeals, the government of Assam was not considering the plight of the people. However, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal has assured to resettle them by January 31 next, and the 1,500 affected people are now camped at Borguri area just beside the Tinsukia DC office,” said Takam Mishing Porin Kebang (TMPK) central vice president Minturaj Morang, who also serves as the Laika-Dodiya Rehabilitation Demand Committee Chief Commissioner from Tinsukia.

Minturaj also said that the total affected people are around 10,000 to 11,000 and their demands include resettling them at Jagun and Digboi areas.

Two women also lost their lives at the Borguri relief camp allegedly because of severe cold and lack of medical care.

Reboti Pao, 54 years died out of cold and lack of medical care.

Kumita Morang, 24, died on January 8 at the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh. She was seven months pregnant.

The AMBK and the TMPK have urged the Centre and state governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to address the resettlement issue concerning the affected people of Laika-Dodiya flood.

(Edited by Gabriel G Momin)