Arunachal: Compensation Denied, Chakma Development Foundation of India Complains to NHRC

The Chakma tribes of Mudokka Nallah village and Deori tribes of Sompoi-II village under the Diyun Circle, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh have been denied compensation by Oil India Ltd. The two communities are being displaced for “oil drilling works at KUP and KUL under Nigru PML, owned by the Oil India Ltd.”

To tackle the issue, the Chakma Development Foundation of India (CDFI) has filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the denial of compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act) to both the communities.

“The divisional authorities of Arunachal Pradesh and the Oil India Company Ltd have been using arbitrary force to constrain the poor project-affected victims to accept some sort of compensation package without any formal process to deny payment of the compensation under the LARR Act. Nonetheless, these two villages are government-recognised villages as per the gazette notification issued by Arunachal Pradesh, and they are the owners and occupants of the lands,” Suhas Chakma shared with NewsClick.

He added that “The Supreme Court of India in its verdict in National Human Rights Commission Vs State of Arunachal Pradesh directed that ‘except following law, the Chakmas shall not be evicted from their homes and shall not be denied domestic life and comfort therein. If any attempt is made by the authorities whether the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas, Oil India Ltd and the State of Arunachal Pradesh to evict the Chakmas without invoking the LARR Act in clear violation of the Supreme Court direction, it becomes the responsibility of the NHRC to initiate contempt proceedings as the petitioner to the Supreme Court petition.”

Chakma and Hajong were settled in Arunachal Pradesh around 1964-69 by the Indian government. Until 1980, the Chakmas and Hajong could get government jobs, ration cards, and other privileges provided to an Indian Citizen. Still, however in 1990, all these rights were taken away, and they were branded as illegal immigrants. Currently, their population has reached one lakh.

The present scenario of these minorities has created havoc amongst them where they fear becoming homeless as the State government has decided to move them out of the state and settle them in a refugee camp regardless of the judgement given by the Supreme Court in 1996 stating that “the State of Arunachal Pradesh, shall ensure the life and personal liberty of every Chakma residing within the state.” The Chakma and Hajong have settled in Arunachal Pradesh for more than 60 years, but now they fear they will soon be homeless.

CDFI now seeks help from the National Human Rights Commission to administer the concern authorities of the State Government, Ministry of Petroleum and Gas and the Oil India Ltd to give justice to those affected displaced victims with prior importance given to the Right to Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (LARR Act).

"Till now the CDFI has not gone to the court because no formal notice for the acquisition has been issued as yet. Furthermore, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has the mandate to adjudicate such cases. If needed we will approach the court,” Suhas Chakam further remarked.

The State government and National Human Rights Commission are yet to reply on the issue faced by these two village communities.