Thursday, November 10, 2016

Take Action: Build a bridge on Karnafuli river (Demagiri, Mizoram)

Demagiri, or Tlabung, in Western Mizoram near to the India-Bangladesh border, is a British era village (now a sub town). The British had set up their foremost frontier post here during the Lushai Expedition in 1871-72 and finally annexed the Lushai hills in 1890s. Demagiri was the gateway of British conquest of Lushai hills (present day Mizoram) and Lt Col TH Lewin had set up his headquarters here. The British came to conquer Lushai hills through the Karnafuli river, also known to Chakmas as Borgang, over which the mighty Kaptai Dam was built by the East Pakistan government in 1960s.  

Tragically, as of date there is no bridge over the Karnafuli river. The river which has swollen due to the Kaptai Dam waters, divides Indian villages and as many as 17 Indian villages, predominantly inhabited by Chakma tribal people, are on the other side of the river (bordering Bangladesh). An estimate stated that around 7,000 people live on the other side of the Karnafuli river. 

The villages which are situated on the other side of the Karnafuli river are (1) Nunsury I, (2) Nunsury II, (3) Bindiasora, (4) Tablabagh I, (5) Tablabagh II, (6) Tablabagh III, (7) Kalapani, (8) Lokkisury, (9) Malsury, (10) Devasora, (11) Puankhai, (12) Nakruksora, (13) Bandiasora, (14) New Balukiasuri, (15) Saichen, (16) Hmundo and (17) Mauzam.


Due to lack of a bridge over the Karnafuli river which according to me is one of the biggest rivers of Mizoram, flowing into Bangladesh, these border people are facing untold sufferings and remained disconnected with the rest of India.


Every day, dozens of tribal school children from the other side of the river put their lives at risk while crossing the fearful river of Karnafuli by small boats to come to schools at Demagiri (Tlabung) which is on the opposite side of the river (Indian side). (See the photograph of school children dangerously crossing the Karnafuli river by small boat at the risk of their lives while going to school.)

The only civil hospital is also situated at Demagiri which is inaccessible to the border people living on the other side of the river. In the absence of a bridge over the Karnafuli river, the villagers are forced to take motor boats which are quite expensive for the impoverished villagers. Lack of ability to pay the ferry charges directly result in denial of access to markets, banking and post office, schools, and communication facilities etc.


If a bridge is constructed over the Karnafuli river, the border inhabitants of these villages shall be uplifted not only economically in terms of access to markets and business but also in terms of access to education, health services, and other social welfare facilities. 


Above all, a bridge over the Karnafuli river will restore freedom of movement of these Indian citizens within their country from which they have been tragically deprived in independent India.

Therefore, the Government of India/Government of Mizoram should take urgent measures to build a bridge over the Karnafuli river at Demagiri.
  

Friday, October 28, 2016

AICSU performs at North East students festival in Delhi

On 22 October, 2016, the cultural troupe of the All India Chakma Students Union (AICSU) performed at the NESt Fest (North East Students Festival) programme organized by My Home India at 8, Ashoka Road, New Delhi.










Dance Video:


The full HD video of the Chakma dance is available at AICSU's official Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C9JYYm_1dk&feature=youtu.be


Friday, June 24, 2016

BREAKING NEWS: Today Guwahati High Court stayed the operation of the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules of 2016


ALL INDIA CHAKMA STUDENTS’ UNION
C3/441, Top Floor, JANAKPURI, NEW DELHI-110058
EMAIL: aicsu2015@gmail.com


24 June 2016

PRESS RELEASE

AICSU welcomes stay granted by the Guwahati High Court this morning of the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules of 2016 

New DelhiThe All India Chakma Students Union (AICSU) welcomes the stay order granted by the Honourable Guwahati High Court this morning i.e. 24 June 2016 on the operation of the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules of 2016 on the PIL No. 49/2016 filed by the Mizoram Chakma Students Union (MCSU) challenging the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules, 2016 which was notified on 20th April 2016 by the Higher and Technical Education Department of Mizoram. 

The Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules, 2016 reserve 95% seats for Category I (Zo-ethnic people) while giving only 4% seats to Category II (Non-Zo ethnic people including Chakmas who are scheduled tribes and more backward than the Mizos) and 1% to children of Central government employees posted in Mizoram. Further, the State Medical and Technical Entrance Examination Information Brochure 2016” provides that Category I candidates (Mizos) will get first priority to take the seats/colleges and only the left out seat, if any, will be given to Category II candidates i.e. Chakmas and other non Mizo scheduled Tribes. This means effectively reserving 100% of the seats for the ethnic Mizos. 

The Higher and Technical Education Department has declared the allotment of seats but it is found that not a single seat in Engineering or MBBS has been allotted to Category II. This means that Chakma students despite scoring good marks in the State Medical and Technical Entrance Examination of 2016 would not get any MBBS or Engineering college despite being Scheduled Tribes like the Mizos.  

Earlier in 2015 the Mizoram Chakma Students Union (MCSU) had filed a PIL (no. 39/2015) in Guwahati High Court challenging the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) (Sixth Amendment) Rules of 2015 by dividing the Scheduled Tribes into indigenous i.e. Mizos and non indigenous (non-Mizo scheduled tribes) and reserving all the seats for the indigenous ethnic Zos. On 16 July 2015, the Guwahati High Court disposed of the PIL after the Mizoram government withdrew the Sixth Amendment Rules of 2015 and put the Chakmas under Category I (indigenous people). 

But this year again, the Mizoram government issued fresh notice and played fraud upon the Hon’ble Guwahati High Court as it included Chakmas under Category II under the Mizoram (Selection of Candidates for Higher Technical Courses) Rules of 2016 by effectively providing 100% reservation of seats for the ethnic Zos. [Ends]

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