Agartala, April 7: The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded the publication of a white paper detailing the expenditure of ₹650 crore allocated by the Central Government for the rehabilitation of Bru (Reang) refugees in the state.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan on Tuesday, party spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty alleged that the funds sanctioned under the 2020 Bru-Reang Rehabilitation Agreement have not been properly utilized. He raised concerns over discrepancies in the implementation of the scheme and called for greater transparency from the government.
The historic agreement, signed in 2020 between the Centre, the governments of Tripura and Mizoram, and representatives of the Bru community, aimed to ensure the permanent settlement of refugees who had spent over two decades in relief camps. As per the agreement, each beneficiary family was to receive ₹6 lakh as financial assistance, along with a monthly allowance of ₹5,000 and free ration supplies.
However, Chakraborty claimed that in reality, many families received only ₹4 lakh, and the promised monthly financial support was either irregular or not delivered at all. He further alleged that Congress leaders who visited 13 designated rehabilitation sites observed widespread irregularities and gaps in implementation.
The Congress has demanded that the government immediately publish a detailed white paper explaining how the ₹650 crore package has been spent. Additionally, the party has called for an extension of the rehabilitation agreement by at least two more years to ensure that all pending benefits are delivered effectively. It also urged the continuation of free ration supplies for an extended period to support the resettled families.
Highlighting another concern, Chakraborty said that out of nearly 6,000 families identified for rehabilitation, around 400 were excluded on the grounds that their names were not listed in the 1977 refugee records. He argued that many of these families were genuine beneficiaries who had formed separate households over time and were unfairly denied inclusion.
Reiterating its stance, the Congress stressed the need for accountability and transparency in the rehabilitation process, urging the government to honour its commitments to the marginalized Bru (Reang) community.
