The Socio-Economic Scenario

Astonishing fact is that the road & transport has paralyzed, condition of drinking water system is tottering, electrification and postal & eelecommunication are virtually absent and not say of a decent sanitary system - the lifeline of the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves nothing but virtual hell. For these reasons, many are compelled to return to India to resettle permanently and the flow has been continuing since 1963. "We don't receive any help from the Government of West Bengal and many of us have left this place and hs taken shelter in the tea-gardens of neighbouing states of Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand …..", says Bamna Mardi of Kote-Bhajni Chhitmahal under Haldibari PS, who was driven out of his chhit under similar circumstances in 1980s.

The inhabitants of the Indian enclaves are in fact debarred from all sorts of constitutional and administrative facilities that any other citizens of the mainland enjoy. So, they are often found oppressed, neglected and exploited. They have not got even their Ration Cards. Astonishing fact is that since 1951, there is no Census has been done, whether general or special and as a result, the true figure of the population is not known. Although, presently, it is thought that it may be approximately one lakh. But, in the year, 1951, its population figure was about 01,200 or so.

Although, 80% (percent) belongs to 'Muslim' community and others 20% (percent) is consisting with Koch-Rajbongshi (as Scheduled Caste, that is, SC) and the Adibashi Santhal (specially Munda) clan (as Scheduled Tribe, that is, ST) community live in Indian enclaves.

There is no Post & Telegraph Communication system in these enclaves. 70% (percent) to 80% (percent) odd of houses have a Radio or a battery-operated Television set that catches programmes from Bangladesh, Nepal and obviously Indian channel (Doordarshan).

They are known as Indians in the soil of Bangladesh. They do not get any help from the Government of Bangladesh either for they have no citizenship of Bangladesh.

Even, the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves have neither any national identity nor any national security. There is neither Government offices nor Non-Government offices to deal with their problems, although, they are not stateless nomadic creatures.

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