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 24th 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.