COVID-19 caused a severe food shortage among the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal in India

News Desk

Chakma and Hajong peoples:

COVID-19 caused a severe food shortage among the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal in India. These two communities have been living in Assam and Arunachal for more than a half-century without citizenship rights, even though, according to India’s constitutions, they are liable to have Indian citizenship.

The different parties came to power in Assam and Arunachal. However, the miserable situation of these Chakma and Hajong peoples never changed. Their untold suffering remained the same decades after decades, which the parties never intended to hear. This year COVID-19 caused severe food shortages among the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal, but the outside world hardly knows their acute starvation

Who are these Chakma and Hajong peoples without citizenship:

Many people in the world do not know who these Chakma and Hajong peoples are?

How much did COVID-19 strike the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal than other societies?

Before the Independent of Bangladesh, the region was known as East Pakistan. Pakistan made the Kaptai Dam on the Kornafuli river, which displaced thousands of hundreds of Indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. All the properties, including farms, land, garden, home-steads, were sunken into the water, making them destitute.

More than fifty thousand Chakma and Hajong had to leave East Pakistan to India. And since then, they have been living in Assam and Arunachal without citizenship; these two, Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal are considered as refugees.

In May, while other people were receiving rations from the government, the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal compelled to buy per kilogram rice by 40-50 Rupees. The shortage of foods made the Chakma and Hajong peoples’ daily lives worsen than other citizens of India.

Leaders appealed to save Chakma and Hajong peoples:

Some of the leaders appealed to help these Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal by uploading social media messages like Facebook and Twitter. The well-wishers of the Chakma and Hajong peoples from abroad, like Japan, Korea, France, and America, etc., are trying to send some donations to save them.

But, this small amount of donations are not sufficient for these two food stricken communities. The Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal need more donations to overcome this pandemic.
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Organizations in work:

A few organizations are indeed working to save these people; however, without government cooperation, the situation of the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal cannot be changed on a big scale.

Ven. Sadhana Nanda Bhikkhu is donating rice
The religious organization like Bharat Bana Bhikku Sangha, Shishu Karuna Sangha, and Christian missions like Believers Eastern Church, came forward to help these Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal, by donating some rice, oil, and some necessary daily goods. Even some of the dedicated persons like Ven. Sadhana Nanda Bhikku from Gaobura village, Assam, is helping personally as much possible.

Chakma and Hajong peoples citizenship to be granted:

The medicines of COVI-19 will be produced very soon. And the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal will overcome the shortage of foods. How will they overcome the agony of not being able to the citizen in a country where they have been living more than a half-century?

The Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal should be granted Indian citizenship without delay and further any discrimination as they have been living for more than a half-century in India.

Honorable prime minister Mr. Modi led BJP government is very much sincere about displacing people, especially religious minorities, who came to India from neighboring countries, like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afganistan. The will-wishers of the Chakma and Hajong peoples are hoping that the Modi government will not keep unsolved the Chakma and Hajong refugee issues.

The Supreme Court Direction:

India is a multi-national democratic country. Cultural, language, religious and political backgrounds may be different. However, the people of India respect the law of the land as India’s solidarity.

The Supreme Court is the top making the right decision for National Interest when there is a debate on National issues. And it’s the responsibility for the citizens to respect and obey the decision.

It’s important to mention that the Supreme Court directed the Center to confer citizenship to the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal in 2015.

Chakma and Hajong peoples need permanent support:

Actually, they are not refugees, but the political situation made them be refugees in their own country. Most of them born in India and grew up in India. But because their ancestor migrated from East Pakistan, that why they are considered refugees.

What are the conditions to be a citizen in a country like India? According to the Supreme Court, they are citizens of India. They should be treated as Indians and receive all the government’s facilities to over this pandemic Covid-19.

In addition, the Chakma and Hajong peoples need permanent supports. They are still lagging behind comparing other communities in Assam and Arunachal. They need proper education, humanitarian rights—moreover, the power of the citizenship of India. The will-wishers must keep supporting the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal until they achieve their citizenship.

Why should you help?

First of all, you love them and want to be a part of them. Or just want to help the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal in their miseries.

That’s great!

Every dollar is precious. A single dollar does not come to our wallet without any effort. But life is more valuable than a dollar. A dollar can be earned by hard work. However, life can not be made this way.

What about if a dollar can save a life? Yes, it’s sometimes unbelievable to think that a dollar can save a life. But it’s reality. Your a hundred dollars can save a whole family in Assam and Arunachal.

If by donating the expenses of a breakfast of one day and saving a family one month, it is not a bad idea.

A chance like saving others’ lives does not always come. Covid-19 brought the opportunity for you. Then why do you miss it when other great people do not miss it !!

Let’s take part in like other people to save some innocent people like Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal, not to be great rather fight together against Covid-19.

Ven.Sadhana Nanda Bhikku
How to help them?

Probably, you may want to help the Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal.

Yes! You’re advance most welcome. It’s straightforward. Very easy. You can contact any of them mentioned above and make a wire.

Besides, if you’re thinking of giving through the organization, then ‘Shishu Karuna Sangha, Bharat Bana Bihar Sangha‘ can be helpful.

If you want to donate you can do through Believers Eastern Church a Christian Mission through its Bridge of Hope projects; or just contact Rev. Fr.Rabi Chakma, Evn. Kenentu Chakma can be a suitable medium.

Overall, Ven. Sadhana Nanda Bhikkhu is always ready to cooperate with anyone who wants to help these Chakma and Hajong peoples in Assam and Arunachal. Regarding his commitment to serving the communities in Assam and Arunachal, no word to be expressed.

Reference: Purnalal.com