The Mizoram State Assembly on 24 February unanimously approved a proposal to support for refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The motion on refugee issue was submitted by Lalrindika Ralte, MP of the opposition party INC, in the Assembly Budget Session currently being held in Mizoram state. The parliament approved the motion after slightly changing the text of the original motion.
In the 24 Feb. parliamentary session, Lalrindika Ralte introduced the motion calling on the state government to treat the refugees kindly, provide them with shelter, and create their own community where they can live together.
The motion was welcomed by all members of parliament present and discussed with great interest. The motion was adopted after amending the text to read “to help the refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh as needed and to continue to help them live and meet their needs” without changing the original meaning.
After the military coup in Myanmar on 1 February 2021, many Chin people fled to the Indian state of Mizoram due to the military council’s offensives.
Initially, the federal government of India urged the Mizoram government to send the Myanmar refugees back home, but the state government decided to welcome them warmly despite the federal government.
According to the statistics of the Mizoram state government, there are 31,050 refugees from Myanmar and 458 refugees from Bangladesh, making a total of 31,508 refugees, according to the Mizoram Home Minister.
The Home Minister said the state has spent 41.4 million rupees to support the refugees – 38.4 million for Myanmar nationals and 3 million for Bangladeshi nationals.
Sent by KMG.