Itanagar, June 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Arunachal Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) has recommended urgent infrastructure development and flood-control measures in Chakma and Hajong settlement areas of Changlang district, officials said on Monday.
The APSHRC stressed that such interventions are necessary to ensure that the migrant communities and their descendants continue to reside within their designated settlement areas while safeguarding the demographic interests of the indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
In a communication addressed to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, APSHRC’s acting Chairperson Bamang Tago highlighted the findings of a field visit conducted to Chakma and Hajong settlement areas in Diyun and Bordumsa circles of Changlang district on June 12 and 13.
The Commission identified two key issues requiring immediate government attention: inadequate road connectivity and recurring floods caused by the Dihing River.
It was observed that road infrastructure in the Chakma-Hajong settlement areas remains severely underdeveloped despite the region’s growing economic significance.
The approximately 33-km stretch between Namsai and Diyun takes more than an hour to cover because of poor road conditions, adversely affecting economic activities, transportation, and regional connectivity.
According to the Commission, improved road connectivity would not only accelerate economic development in Changlang and Namsai districts but also strengthen strategic and security interests, considering the presence of the headquarters of the 2nd Arunachal Pradesh India Reserve Battalion at Diyun. Better roads, it said, would facilitate faster movement of security personnel during emergencies and law-and-order situations.
The APSHRC also highlighted the economic importance of the region’s areca nut industry, noting claims that Diyun Circle alone generates an annual areca nut trade worth around Rs 50 crore.
It was observed that enhanced infrastructure would further boost economic opportunities and improve livelihoods for all communities residing in the area.
At the same time, the Commission drew attention to recurring floods caused by the Dihing River, which annually erode agricultural land and damage crops in Chakma and Hajong settlement areas. It noted that repeated displacement due to flooding has historically contributed to pressures for expansion beyond existing settlement zones.
The APSHRC stated that effective flood-control measures in Changlang and Namsai districts, particularly in Chakma and Hajong settlement areas, would help ensure that the affected communities can continue residing within their notified settlements.
Preventing flood-induced displacement would also address the long-standing concerns of indigenous communities that Chakma and Hajong populations should remain within their designated settlement areas and not spread into other parts of the state.
In its recommendations, the Commission urged the state government to expedite ongoing road projects connecting Namsai-Diyun and Diyun-Miao, ensure comprehensive coverage of settlement areas under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), and consider including these corridors under the proposed East-West Industrial Corridor for development as double-lane roads.
It further recommended that the state government undertake comprehensive flood-control measures in Chakma-Hajong settlement areas, if necessary, with assistance from the North Eastern Council (NEC) and the Government of India, to ensure that the affected populations are able to remain within their designated settlement zones.
The recommendations assume significance amid continuing discussions on demographic protection, indigenous rights, and the regulation of settlement patterns in Arunachal Pradesh. The Commission’s observations underscore the need for a balanced approach that addresses humanitarian concerns and developmental requirements while protecting the legitimate demographic and cultural interests of the indigenous tribes of the state.
Source: IANS
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