An Appeal to the Government of India for the tribes in Tripura

Today, all our tribes in Tripura, am demanding elevation of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to Tipraland State. We have been launching movements peacefully and democratically in the State of Tripura.

My people do have faith in the Constitution of India and the power vested therein. My have become victims of being reduced to minority by the victim refugees of the erstwhile East Bengal or East Pakistan or presently Bangladesh due to partition of India in 1947 and Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.  According to 1951 Census, the total population of Tripura without refugees was 375,303 ( by adding figure of Col.3 & 4 of the Table below) and the total refugees sheltered or settled down in Tripura within a period of 24 years from 1947 to 1971 was 609,998 (excluding growth after the refugees sheltered or settled). However, the figure itself was more than its natural population in Tripura. As per 2011 Census, the total population of Tripura is 36,72,000 & the growth was owing to historic partition of India forced Tripura to share its all resources and created an impact on socio-economic and political too. This is a demographic invasion against our tribes in Tripura which is resulting their gradual extinction. Perhaps,  no other tribes or race who have to encounter such demographic invasion in such short period that they face today. Therefore, we are the victims with cascading effects of the victim refugees of the partition of India in 1947 and Bangladesh Liberation War ending in 1971. This was the lone reason for the tribes in Tripura to become minority within less than 3(three) years from the date of Tripura merged with India on 15-10-1949. The influx of refugees from the year 1947 to 1951 was landmark demographic invasion against the tribes in Tripura resulted that they reduced to minority and it is taking place continuously even today. There is no other option or alternative before us but to demand for elevation of TTAADC to a full-fledged “Tipraland” statehood within the framework and under Article-3 of the Constitution of India for the fact that the population of our tribes will get reduced to insignificant percentage or to the state of extinction in the next two decade or so from now. Had there been no such enormous influx of refugees in the State of Tripura, the present demand for Tipraland State would in no way have arisen. Tripura merged with Indian Union for the safeguards of its people; especially the tribes who were majority before her merger. The  tribes will extinct gradually without safeguards under the Article-3 of the Constitution of India without the elevation of TTAADC to a full fledged State a right of self determination. Tripura acceded to Indian Union on 15-10-1949 for safeguards. This should be upheld by granting an elevation of  TTAADC to a full fledged State “Tipraland” under Article-3 of the Constitution.

Table

The Influx of Refugees in Tripura from 1947 to 1971

Years(s)	No. of refugees registered	Population of tribes	Population of Non-tribes	Total (Including Refugees)
1	2	3	4	5
1947-51	279,404 (42.68)***	237,953 *(63.40) & (36.34)**	137,350 *(36.60) &(20.96)**	654,707 (as per 1951 Census)
1952-58	190,000	360,070 *(53.53) & (31.53)**	312,531 *(47.47) & (27.37)**	11,42,005 (as per 1961 Census)
Sub-Total (A)	469,404 (41.10)***
1959-63	Registration of Refugees discontinued
1962-71 (B)	140,594	450,544 *(47.61) & (28.95)**	495,800 *(52.39) & (31.86)**	15,56,342 ( as per 1971 Census)
Total of (A)  & (B) of Col. 2	609,998 (39.19)***

N.B:- Figure in the parenthesis indicate percentage. * (one esterric) indicate percentage of of the population of tribes & non-tribes excluding the population of refugees and **(two esteric) indicate the percentage of population of the tribes and non-tribes including the population of the refugees.

Source:- Author Gayatri Bhattacharyya in her book titled “Refugee Rehabilitation and its Impact on Tripura’s Economy”, Omsons Publication, Guwahati, 1988, p.14.

1.2 The above information on refugees in Tripura since the Partition of India in 1947 and the first concluded Population Census in 1951 in the State clearly stated that the population of tribes was 63.40% excluding the population of the refugees from East Pakistan ( erstwhile East Bengal ) but they were 36.34% taking account of the refugee population.

1.3 The decadal (1951-61) percentage increase in tribes was 33.91% & non-tribes(excluding refugees) was 56.05%. The decadal increase in percentage in respect of non-tribes was highly alarming. Since decadal  percentage increase in respect of tribes was 33.91; it could not be more than this % increase in case of non-tribes too. The excess increase in percentage of non-tribes by 22.14 more than tribes was due to increase in the population of refugees by way of natural growth after they took refuge in Tripura or some more unaccounted refugees came from across the border which could not be ruled out. (Ref: Para 1.5)

1.4 It was almost as soon as Tripura merged with Indian dominion within less than 3(three) years; the population of tribes that was commanding majority had witnessed vigorous demographic invasion. The population of tribes without refugees would have been about 90%.  The household to household enumeration which could not be held due to remoteness and far flung areas in the State. There was a habit of frequent shifting amongst the tribes households from one place to the other. The demographic invasion that had been taking place since 1947 to 1971 and has been continuing thereafter too (Ref: Para 1.5).

1.5 Tripura has been experiencing illegal intrusions occurring even after cut off date 24^th March, 1971. The cases of illegal migration from Bangladesh has surfaced through a seminar paper on “Politics around illegal migration from Bangladesh: With special reference to Assam and Tripura”  submitted  by Shri Minal Kanti Deb and Dr. Arabindo Mahato in the National Seminar on Issues, Challenges & Development held on September 11-12, 2015; organized by Rajiv Gandhi University Research Scholars Forum in collaboration with Department of Political Science, RGU. The proceedings of the paper has been published by the Authors Press: ISBN 978-93-5207-161-6: Q-2A Hauz  Khas Enclave, New Delhi-1100016. The said seminar paper stated that a horrible statistics is being indicated in case of Tripura, the number of illegal migrants had managed to entered was 800,000 and 325,400 in 1998 and 2001 respectively. It proves the extent of corruption in regards to providing citizenship in this State of Tripura, while there was no witness of push-back in to Bangladesh. Therefore, there is uninterrupted flow of illegal migrants in the State.  The irony is; the illegal migrants are living in the State under the guise of language and cultural affinity and under the patronage of the political in power; which the Government of Tripura is definitely aware about it but is not paying any heed to it for the reasons best known to it. Therefore, illegal migration is continuing even after the cut off date (24-03-1971) as per Indira-Mujib Pact. We are certain that the numbers of such illegal migrants are yet to have an actual estimation in Tripura. The numbers would be more than what has been revealed in the seminar paper as submitted by those scholars. The amendment of the Citizenship Act is imminent by the both houses of Parliament. Perhaps; the Government of Tripura might come up with the estimated figures of illegal migrants after the amendment of the Citizenship Act; or they will be granted citizenships silently and without notice.

1.6 An all party meeting was organized by the Government of Tripura on the issues of the development of tribes in Tripura which was held on February 26, 1992. It was just a year after the population census 1991 concluded. The representative of the then opposition Communist Party of India(Marxist) in the Tripura Legislative Assembly submitted a written statement submitted in the said meeting. The points; inter-alia of the said submitted statement were  the population of tribes was 23% in the State; the illegal intruders should be confined in a camp and be deported; intrusion of illegal Bangladeshis in TTAADC areas should be prevented in order that the population of tribes was not reduced; and Inner line Permit should be introduced in TTAADC. It may kindly be noted that the  percentage of tribes in the State was concocted to be 28.5% in 1991 Census. In other words; the reality was that the matter concoction of determining the percentage of tribes surfaced to the opposition political party was a fact. The Government of Tripura could sense its implication. Although the actual percentage was 23; but to burry the issue; the percentage of tribes in 1991 census was settled at 28.5%. When the actual % tribes was 23% according to 1991 census; then we subsequent two more censuses in 2001 and 2011. Since the actual percentage of Tribes in Tripura was 23 in 1991; taking in to consideration of the said above estimated illegal migration in 1998 and 2001; of course, the trend of illegal migrants from Bangladesh continues even thereafter; the present % of the tribes population in Tripura should even be less than 17. 135,000 illegal voters in Tripura was detected by the Election Commission of India in 1994 but they had been enrolled in the Electoral Roll finally. Therefore, the tribes of Tripura were pushed towards another step to insignificant; their existence need to be safeguarded within the framework of the Constitution of India. Therefore, we demand elevation of TTAADC to Tipraland State under  Article-3 of the Constitution of India.

1.7 It is not difficult to perceive the percentage of the tribes will get reduced when illegal migrants are granted citizenship after the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act.

1.8 In TTAADC, the percentage of the population of tribes is presently constituted at 84%. The Government of Tripura in association of TTAADC is giving land allotment to the non-tribes within TTAADC areas. The purpose is to reduce or bring down the percentage of tribes population for letting the Sixth Schedule lose its relevancy. The State is working out to achieve this goal. The achievement of this goal would imply that the tribes would lose the right to demand for safeguards under the Article-3 of the Constitution of India; because the population of the tribes in TTAADC will lose  majority by then. This is a wake up call for the Government of India to provide safeguards to the tribes in Tripura by granting Tipraland State. The centre of our focal point should be on development activities; but after extinction of these tribes; development activities should be for whom?  Therefore, the Government of India must grant constitutional safeguards to the tribes in Tripura from extinction by a way of elevation of the TTAADC to a full fledged State “Tipraland” under Article-3 of the Constitution of India. It should be done immediately.