ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Feb 15: The voice against the JHPC final report over the PRC issue is growing louder each day with the Yobin Welfare Society (YWS) on Friday also calling for its immediate withdrawal citing it as a threat to the very identity and existence of their tribe.
The society is critical about the JHPC recommendation to the state government that PRC may be issued to Assam Rifles ex-servicemen settlers of Changlang district who came and settled there prior to 1968.
"There will be multiple adverse impacts on our culture, identity, and the very existence of our tribe will be at stake if once JHPC recommendation is approved in the assembly," observed its President, Lucheso Yobin while interacting with press persons on Friday here at the Press Club. He lamented that the JHPC recommendation has added more woes to the problems of their people who are already facing marginalization issues since very long.
Lucheso asserted that a rapid increase in the population of ex-servicemen in the Yobin inhabited area is a tangible example of how vulnerable ethnic groups are, being dominated by the outsiders in their own land today. Citing historical record, he claimed that their people have been forcefully evicted from their ancestral lands by the government to make space for settlement of 200 ex-servicemen and  retired army personnel families. It is important to note that the lesser known Yobin tribe have their own history, culture, and language to protect, he stressed.
He also claimed that the settlement of the retired army families was also not done following the land settlement policy of the central government that is on “vacant lands”, but they were allowed to build over Yobin inhabited lands.
Informing that the lease agreement or land allotment order issued to ex-serviceman is going to expire in 2020, he called for rehabilitating them somewhere else outside Vijoynagar without renewing the agreement.
Admitting and appreciating the role of ex-servicemen in securing the country’s border, he however said that as there is 13th Assam Rifles installed now to look after border security, ex-servicemen services are no more required.
"We don't care how many awards or medals these ex-servicemen bagged as our people have suffered enough of differential treatment. And now we need our land back for survival and to build a better place for the coming generation," he demanded.
He also went on to allege that now settlers are forging documents to claim tribal rights and there is a sudden increase in the influx of Bihari labourers and illegal non-ex-servicemen in Vijoynagar. Also according to a complaint letter submitted to DC Changlang by the society, no action has been initiated against the settlers over these tribal lands although many FIRs had been lodged against them.

"We have been watching helplessly all these unwanted developments over the years and now this dangerous trend is spreading wantonly without much obstruction from local administration," Lucheso alleged.

He raised apprehension that issuing PRC to them may trigger a wave of other migrants to undertake dangerous journeys towards their area. 
Located in the south-east periphery of Namdapha under Changlang District, Vijoynagar is the remotest circle in the state, wedged between China-Myanmar borders and homeland to this little-known Lisu (Yobin) tribe. As per the census 2001, there are about 13 villages in the circle with a population of approximately 4000.
Sadly since after declaration as an administrative headquarters in 1962, the condition of Vijoynagar remains unchanged. Reportedly it takes around seven to ten days to reach there by foot through dense forests.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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