বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৮৪
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| বাংলাদেশের শরনার্থীদের সাহায্যে সকল রাজ্যকে এগিয়ে আসার জন্য পশ্চিম বঙ্গ সরকারের আহ্বান | দি স্টেটসম্যান | ২২ এপ্রিল, ১৯৭১ |
W. BENGAL WANTS ALL STATES TO COME TO THE AID OF
REFUGEES
Centre Promises to bear Entire Relief Expenditure
By Our Special Representative
After taking serious note of the alarming rise in the rte of influx of evacuees from Bangla Desh, the West Bengal Cabinet is understood to have decided on Wednesday to tell the Centre immediately that the State Government just cannot provide food. shelter and health facilitics for them single handed and that the responsibility should be shared by all other States since they also have been supporting the cause of Bangla Desh.
According to our Special Representative in Delhi. Mr. R.K. Khadilkar, Minister of Labor, Employment and Rehabilitation, said there that the Centre would bear the entire expenditure involved in providing relief to the refugees coming from East Bengal.
The State Government’s point of concern was that in a little over 10 days over 273,000 evacuees had crossed over to West Bengal seeking shelter, and that at this rate the total might go much beyond the one million mark soon. Neither the State’s economy nor the Government’s existing resources could cope with this problem.
Even in a normal year, as in 1970, when the total influx of refugees was about 226,000, the State Government had insisted on having the displaced persons dispersed to various centers throughout India within a fortnight of their reporting in the reception centers along the border. This was done mainly keeping in view the problem of accommodation, and the Centre had agreed to that position.
The position according to the State Government, should be treated as much more complicated this time. Most of those who are coming over will not have to be treated as refugees requiring rehabilitation facilities but will have to b fed, sheltered and cared for till such time as conditions in Bangla Desh improve sufficiently to enable them to return.
What the State Government feels now is that the problem of evacuees needs to be treated at the national level and should not be left to be dealt with directly by the West Bengal Government alone. And since all the State Governments are committed to supporting the Bangla Desh cause, they should now be persuaded by the Centre to come forward to share the burden of evacuees.
Gesture Appreciated
The State Government, of course, appreciated the Centre’s gesture in promising full financial compensation to the State Government for the maintenance of the evacuees. But this, West Bengal Government thinks, solves only a small part of the overall problem.
The Cabinet, meanwhile, has named a sub-committee, comprising the Minister of Finance, Mr. Tarun Kanti Ghosh, PWD Minister, Mr. Santosh Roy and the Rehabilitation Minister, Mr. Ananda Mohan Biswas to coordinate relief measures for the evacuees. Morcover some of the Ministers are going out to different border districts to make a fresh assessment of the situation.
Our Special Representative in New Delhi adds: Mr. Khadilkar did not naturally want to specify the amount, but having “regard to humanitarian considerations”, the Centre was prepared to bear the “heavy burden” and would give “whatever money is required” to help the large number of people being forced out of East Bengal.
Till today about 273,299 people have crossed the border, Mr. Khadilker added that up to the middle of April, the men who entered West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura “preferred to return to East Bengal, presumably to continue to freedom fight”. Those who stayed back in India comprised mostly women, children and older men.
Sudden Rise
But after April 15, however, there had been a sudden increase in the influx of people from East Bengal, possibly because of the extreme brutality of the Pakistani Army. That everyone who has crossed the border is not depending on the Indian Government’s assistance is obvious from the fact that the number of people in the camps totaled only 89,600. The balance of 169,100 refugees were living with friends and relatives.
Mr. Khadilkar gave the following break-up I people in the camps: West Bengal 61,800; Assam and Meghalaya-10,700; and Tripura- 17,100.
A large chunk of the 169,100 refugees staying with friends and relatives are in West Bengal. The following is the break-up of this category of refugees: West Bengal-151,400; Assam and Meghalaya-7,700; and Tripura-10,000.
Mr. Khadilkar did not agree with a questioner who asked whether the influx of refugees was not too big for the Government to cope with. To deal with relief work with “utmost expedition” a branch secretarial of the Ministry under the charge of an Additional Secretary has been set up in Calcutta. Liaison officers in Assam and Tripura, who will function under this branch were also being appointed.
In reply to another question, Mr. Khadilkar said the Government was taking precautions to prevent undesirable organizations meddling in relief work. All voluntary organizations have been told to route their assistance through the Bangla Desh Assistance Committee set up at the national level.
Asked what steps the government was taking to present spies and infiltrator from entering Indian territory in the garb of refugees. Mr. Khadilkar, said, “We have taken as much care as is humanly possible to check such people coming in”.
Mr. Khadilkar said the border State Governments have so far made arrangements for opening nearly 55 reception centers and relief camps. Their number would be suitably increased if necessary. Adequate arrangements were also be made to provide shelter to the refugees during the monsoon.