Assam Tribal voters to boycott polls

These villagers are from several large tribal villages located in the southern part of the Hailakandi district of the Barak Valley along the Assam-Mizoram border.

Speaking to reporters, Pitaram Reang, the president of the Young Bru Association, which is a influential tribal organisation in the area said that ever political party, just before the elections makes a lot of promises but never makes any attempt to fulfil those once the elections are over.

“Every political party comes to meet us before every election and makes a lot of promises to us, but these are never fulfilled,’ said Reang.

Reang also alleged that the border tribal residents have been receiving only false assurances from political leaders since the last several years.

“The tribal people here are living in pitiable condition without any access to electricity, drinking water, roads, health and education, also most don’t possess rights over land” said Prahlad Reang, president of the Bru Students’ Association.

“We have been living in our respective areas since 1920, but till date no land pattas have been provided to us,” he alleged.

They also said that they would not cast their votes only on the basis of the assurances made by the leaders as they need the practical implementation of welfare schemes meant for them.

They also raised a series of demands before the government which includes granting of ST status to the Reang people of Assam, recognition of Brus as a primitive tribal group, upgrading of rural communication, and steps for improving the education scenario in the areas.

“We would also like to appeal to the government to take appropriate steps for the preservation and development of the cultural heritage of the primitive tribes,” added Pitaram Reang.