By Munize Ali, TwoCircles.net,
TCN Special Series on riot relief camps in Assam: Part 2
Chirang, Assam: Nangalbhanga camp of Chirang district, Assam, has 110 families comprising 616 persons as inmates. Inmates, mostly from the places like Shishubari, Khagrabari, Bosorbari, Paniagaon, are sharing this camp since 1993 when they were displaced during the ethnic riots in 1993 in the district, then part of Bongaigaon district.
“Our village was attacked on October 10, 1993. We left our home in one piece of cloth as we lost everything. Initially we were lodged at Amguri camp for one week and then we were taken here in Nangalbhanga camp which is also sometimes called Joypur camp’.
Inmates of Nangalbhanga camp
Inmates informed that ration was available to them for three years and then it stopped coming. ‘In 2009, we again started getting 5 kg of rice at the rate of rupees six per kg till October 2010. Due to lack of livelihood opportunities, we hardly could afford food to two times a day’ said Sirajul Haque who is the president of the relief camp committee.
Hamida Bewa, female inmate informed that it is difficult for women inmates to move around. ‘Our movement is very restricted. We can’t even visit our relatives as the place is very remote and transportation is very bad. We can’t take part in any work too. We stitch katha at home and work as domestic help to earn something for the family’.
Foundation stone of a sub-health centre near the camp was laid down in 2006 but the centre was never built
The nearest hospital is about 5 kms away. Foundation stone was laid for a sub health centre near the camp in 2006 but the health centre was never built.
In a bid to solve the issue of these internally displaced people, Assam government has given compensation amount of Rs 50,000 and about 93 families have received it. ‘This amount is not enough for us to buy land and build house. We don’t know where to move’ said an old inmate with worry writ large in his face.
Soil erosion near the Nangalbhanga village
The Nangalbhanga camp is also constantly being targeted by natural disasters like soil erosion. Inmates believe that their camp will not exist after a year as the river nearby is constantly eroding the soil.
Inmates are not excited about the upcoming Assembly election in Assam as it will not change their lives. They are demanding physical security and rehabilitation from the government.