One year after Indo-Bangla enclaves exchange, dwellers complain about state govt’s apathy

There were 14,856 residents of Bangladesh enclaves in India and the 921 Indians who have come over from across the borders.

Those who have migrated to India from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh are being provided with regular meals a day at designated dining halls at the camps for the first month (Haldibari camp). (Source: Express Photo by Subham Dutta)

As enclave dwellers complete one year of living the country after the historic exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh, the dwellers complain that although the Central government had been proactive in issuing Voter ID cards and Aadhar cards, the state government had been unable to provide them basic amenities.

Jainal Abedin, a resident of Madhya Moshaldanga enclave in Cooch Behar district said that there were no roads or electricity. “The state government has shaken our confidence. There has been no improvement in the life of enclave dwellers since the time we received Indian citizenship,” Abedin said. He said that none of the youngsters of the enclaves have been admitted in any school because there have been no birth certificates issued. He also said that administration officials and political leaders were present at the celebration of a year of the enclave exchange between the two countries. “The celebration was at Cooch Behar Netaji Indoor Stadium, over 50 km away at some of the enclaves here. How do we commute? It should have been organised at the enclaves itself,” he said.

Alleging corruption, he demanded that the district administration should issue a white paper about the money that had been received for the welfare of the enclave dwellers and how much of it had been spent.

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Diptiman Sengupta, chief coordinator, Citizen Rights Co-ordination Committee, which works towards the welfare of enclave dwellers, said that the process of land acquisition has not yet begun. “People do not have any documents of the houses they are living in at the moment. A job is a far cry,” he said.

There were 14,856 residents of Bangladesh enclaves in India and the 921 Indians who have come over from across the borders. Those who had crossed over the border are still living in camps at three places – Dinhata, Mekhliganj and Haldibari. Bangladeshis who have come over to India are already regretting coming here to India. “We came over with a lot of expectations but are deeply disappointed. We have been living in a lot of penury in the last one year and we already regret coming over here. I hope the state government ensures a certain percent of government jobs for the enclave dwellers,” said Osman Gani, one of the enclave dwellers who had come over from Bangladesh.

Authorities, however, prefer to remain tight-lipped but on condition of anonymity, senior officials of the administration admit that there has been a delay in the process. “2015 being an election year, a lot of time had been lost where no new developmental work had been initiated. Works like issue of job cards and ration cards had been done but, yes, infrastructural developments like roads and power have been delayed. The process of tendering is on and very soon work on the ground will begin. We have also received part of the required money. People will have to be a little patient,” said a senior administrative official.

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