The uprooted enclave residents face a number of problems. These problems may be studied under two heads. Of them, the first one is poverty and second one is lack of security of life as citizen.

The economic asset of these chhitmahalis is only, ‘agriculture’. They have in need of cash but not kind.The ladies of these chhitmahals were kept themselves confined with household works. They cooked food and kept residence clean as far as possible.

Sometimes, they lend cooperation to their made heads in the fields. Even, the little children, old men, and old women are not exempted from this field works. So, the too use required to do some type of work to meet odd expense.

All these led them to earn exceptional experience of life losing their land, property and their kith and kin. This may be compared with the people, who were compelled to take shelter in India after ‘partition’. The chhitmahalis are thus reduced into the position of farthing less figures working as the earlier mention works and so on.

These people are deprived of the right to vote although they have been living in these places for last thirty years. They are not given any ration card red or pink. The only proof (Patta or Dakhila or of Land) they bear with them is nothing but a path or a document offered to them by Coochbehar Raj-Estate. This particular document may help them in forgery case of land transformation but not having the benefit of ration card or franchise. These people are thus deprived of all those opportunities awarded by the Government, which the people below poverty line have right to enjoy.

In between 1950-1952, some Muslim families living in the Indian mainland exchanged their landed property with the properties of the settlers of the Indian enclaves, especially, who belong to Hindu community and began to live there.

A large part of this Muslim community people now compel to leave the place, that is, Indian enclaves. A few of them were able to save their life and property with the help of their some influential relatives, who live in Bangladesh. These Muslim families, who came here to live exchanging their landed properties has plunged into the sea of untold misery.

Voting Right

There is no election held either in Village Panchayat system or in state legislative since 1952. The inhabitants do not get their names enlisted in Votertalika (that is, Voter List or Electoral Roll).

The inhabitants of the Indian enclaves have been deprived of the right to exercise franchise like other citizens of the country. This happens during the Assembly and Member of Parliament Poll in West-Bengal. The officials related to it have stated that, as these people do not possess any identity of their citizenship. They are not allowed to cast their vote in spite of the various assurances or promises promised by the political leaders since 1950.

The inhabitants are also unfortunates in having social and economic rights. Even, the basic amenities are denied to them. They cannot enter the main land without the permission of IBSF jawans. They try to depend on the help of Bangladesh Government. But, the same is not possible for Bangladesh Government does not have any intention to provide any help for living a good life.

The chittmahalis (that is, who live in enclaves) have no political party and no leader of any sort who shall take interest with the inhabitants of these enclaves as because they have no right to cast their vote.

Administrative & Security System

With the merger of Coochbehar into India and introduction of passport system, the inhabitants of these above enclaves began facing many troubles as limitations were placed on their ‘movement’. Following the atrocities committed by ‘Pakistani Army’ in the year, 1971, the Hindu families, who continued to live in the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh were displaced by force and most of above these enclaves were been taken over control by Pakistani Army. However, on the other side, the inhabitants of Bangladeshi enclaves, who had left, indeed, came back and claimed their land based on legal papers or documents. The populaces of Bangladeshi enclaves inside India are better off than the populaces of Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh.

Indeed, the inhabitants of these Indian enclaves, who are made, separated from the mainland, feel the need to enter their own motherland (India) under the cover of darkness. There are about 130-numbers of enclave in Bangladesh, where more than lakhas of Indians live, who have practically no relation with the people of their homeland.

These enclaves exist within Bangladesh and as such, the inhabitants fail to enjoy administrative facilities of India. They live neither as Bangladeshi nor as Indian.

These destitute, who are berefted of their soil and shelter and are now quite behind the law. Law cannot stand by them to rescue from any problem. Neither India nor Bangladesh does anything to help them. They do not know, where will they go to seek help if and when they are in any problem. They do not know what to be done, if there is any theft, robbery or any crime that often occur during harvest or watering the land. They have no opportunity to lodge any complain for if they go to do this, they will have to go to Bangladesh, where Bangladesh Defence Rifle (BDR) are patrolling who will not spare them to do this but put them behind the bar (that is, jail).

So, these people always try to avoid lodging complain to the BDR personnel. This is why, the inhabitants of these Indian enclaves are required to guard themselves and their property, paddy, cows and others and even their wives and daughters round the clock.

‘Might is right’ is the law of the Indian enclaves. Therefore, he who has this power can control all and enjoy more or less a good life. Because, there is no law, no reason, no Police and no administration. But, being stateless, they can be arrested any moment without notice and cause.

Already, many of them are taken away by BDR forcibly and then either made traceless or to involve in a false case and later, send them to prison as convicts, where the innocent Indians pass their life like beasts, day after day, month after month and also year after year without any charge.

In a word, undeclared Jungle-Raj is going on in the Indian enclaves by Bangladeshi anti-social elements. Because, here crime is not paid. In fact, the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves lack minimum security and protection.

Absence of Police Out Post (POP) and Security Guards Force (SGF) then to live in dismay. This has helped the miscreants to carry on their unlawful activities such as looting, plundering, robbery and so on. As a result, some have to leave for Bangladesh and some to ‘Indian Territory’. But, those, who cannot do this, are compelled to live a life of torture and ferment.

The people of the Indian enclaves have been facing such a type of fearful life since 1947. These enclaves belong to India but have existed in Bangladesh and this is why; the Government of Bangladesh cannot take any step to provide security to the inhabitants of these Indian enclaves. Here, he lords over other, who has manpower, muscle-power and money-power. Here, protectors are devourers.

Apart from this, molestation on temples (that is, religious centres) is a common feature in this place by the Bangladeshi miscreants. The inhabitants of the Indian enclaves have to endure everything silently. The inhabitants can’t lodged a complaint in the Police Station of Bangladesh, if any unlawful activities like murdered, rape or such other crimes are committed by a Bangladeshi to an Indian.

Even, unfortunate fact is that nobody comes to help them, when they are in danger. The Indian Police Station also does not receive any complaint made by the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves. Because of this, the numbers of incidents have made against them remain unheeded. They cannot think of going to court for justice. They are required to depend upon the Bangladesh Government for law and justice.

The Bangladeshi anti-social elements often setup open gambling centres in the villages of the Indian enclaves and create various troubles for the peace loving people. Sometimes, they take shelter in Indian Territory to escape their crimes committed in the country, vice-versa.

Although, they create atrocity upon the inhabitants when failed to receive any asylum. Sometimes, BDR jawans also accompany them in doing so. Even, they kidnap and rape the teenage girls, women et cetera and many ofthe Indians get killed, who oppose them.

In this way, these Bangladeshi antisocial elements and the BDR play ducks and drakes with the life and youth of the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves. They are thus forced to pass their lives in confusion.

So, finding no other alternative, some well to do persons of these enclaves go to Bangladesh, purchase some plots of land to settle their children and get escaped this unbearable conditions of life. In the enclaves, survival is very sinuous and so the inhabitants have to fight with odd situations. However, those, who try to this thing, either die or pested of all peace and prosperity.

It also be noted that some inhabitants of the Indian enclaves have no close relation with the Indians so far their social and economic matters are concerned. As a result, they institute matrimonial connection with the Bangladeshis.

The ladies of these enclaves cannot lead normal life like other Indians. Many raise questions about their chastity. This creates a bar in matters of matrimonial relation with others. The ladies of the enclaves are often become victims of different un-social activities such as : molestation, rape and other sorts ofrepression ofbody and mind.

Thus, repression on one hand and lack of protection on the other have compelled the people to build Village Defense Party (VDP) or Village Defense Force (VDF), popularly known as : Gram Surkhha Samiti (GSS), consists 40/50-numbers to 100/120-numbers of inhabitant ofan enclave. These parties are conducted by Sector Commandant, Platoon Commandant, Wing Commander and Jawan (that is, Soldier), who also help them in these matters.

When any crime is committed, this VDP sends his men, that is, jawans to pick-up the criminal and bring for trial. It is done in the Union of Battalion Office do here punishment is inflicted according to the nature weight of the crime. There is also a room to keep the convict. The local people call it ‘prison-house’.

Apart from this, in case of land, the occupier of a plot of land really becomes its owner, if he is found using that plot of land at least for 12 years. The inhabitants of the enclaves are also aware of their good and so they try to which their cultivable-land by subscription.

In some Indian enclaves, there were POPs during Koch Dynesty. After independence, there were also some Indian Border Security Force (IBSF)’s jawans in International Border Out Post (IBOP)s do the job. But those IBOPs were withdrawn after the clash between India and Pakistan in (Northern) Indian sector in 1993 that still continues.

The social, political, economic, cultural, geographical, educational, environmental, et cetera conditions of the people of Indian enclaves are very pathetic and no being can stand it. Various sorts of outrages occur here now and then due to the absence of law and order that compels the Indians to turn into ‘refugee’ (and have settled in the Indian mainland permanently).

Here, both the ‘Hindu’ and the ‘Muslim’ live and suffer together. They are harassed, their houses are burnt down, food crops are illegally mowed, properties are looted and many of them are going to become penniless and pass the life like street-beggar. It seems that they live ‘nomadic-life’ and nothing more.

Further, those who have taken shelter in Indian Territory fail to receive any help from Government and Non Governmental Organization (NGO)s et cetera. Even, political and non-political organizations have not yet made an arrangement to render any sort of assistant to them. Some of them are compelled to take shelter in neighbouring states.

Here, they earn livelihood either as daily-labour or as Rickshaw-puller, Hand-barraow-puller, Vegetable-seller, Fish-seller, et cetera. Sometimes, they sell their children, specially daughters to Middle-East countries to get involved in ‘flesh-trade’, begging or used in ‘camel-racing’ with the help of some touts or agents or middlemen or they are locally called Dalal, where they suffer hellish problems.

Therefore, when the people of the world, as well as India has been raising their voice against violation of‘Human-Rights’ and the Bangladesh Defence Rifle (BDR), Bangladeshi anti-social elements and Islamic religious fundamentalists et cetera are creating inhuman activities directly or indirectly upon the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves, at that time, the world human-right activists are keeping silence.

Education System

The people of the Indian enclaves have been deprived of the facilities of education. The absences of educational institutions do not offer the children of these enclaves to know the letters and acquire knowledge. This is why; they get their children admitted in the schools of Bangladesh. The absence of Lower Primary School (LPS), Middle English School (MES) and High School compels them to go to Bangladesh. The children do not get any opportunity to read and know history, geography and social studies of India, although they are out and out Indians. They are compelled to read these subjects of Bangladesh that comply with different mode of living.

There are some small schools in the Indian enclaves but these schools have neither teachers nor materials like blackboard, desk-bench, chalk-duster, et cetera. Some schools have one or two teachers but they are untrained. It is also an astonishing fact that there is one or two schools in some enclaves but these schools have no enrolments (for students).

Further, there is no scheme to provide books; pens, papers and mid-day-meal, that is, food for Tiffin in the schools of the enclaves exist in Indian Territory. But, these are available in schools of Bangladeshi enclaves. All these facilities tempt most of the guardians to go and purchase land in Bangladesh to have permanent settlements for better education also.

The educational institutions of the enclaves after 1947 have either been closed or destroyed. So, the children of these places have to prosecute their studies at home (as ‘private-tuition’). The institutions were at that time, prior to 1947 maintained from the exchequer of the Coochbehar-estate. But, all these are no more.

Further, financial crunch and repeated attack upon these institutions by the Bangladeshi anti-social elements led their impending collapse. Some students of the Indian enclaves face various troubles to prosecute their studies, as they have to go to schools of the other Indian enclaves obtaining the permission from BDR personnel that often they fail to get. To do this, they require Indian Identity Card (IIC), but yet they do not have any opportunity to get them and so they have to depend upon Bangladeshi schools, colleges et cetera to fetch their educational qualifications.

Health Service System

The enclaves lack good health service. There is neither any Hospital nor any Health Centre nor Maternity Home. Therefore, whenever anybody falls ill or becomes the victim of any disease, he or she is required to go to nearby health-centre of Bangladesh. The inhabitants use foreign currency to buy their health service from Bangladesh.

In some enclaves, there are one or two small health-centres but these are not well equipped. Here, doctors are quite helpless and as such instead of giving medicines, they offer only prescriptions. Want of ambulance many times force the patients to face many troubles.

The chhitmahalis and their children do not have any opportunity of vaccination or anti diseases injection for want of the facilities of medical helps of any sort and so the death rate of the children is very high. As a result, sometimes, these children fall victims of ‘Polio’ and such other diseases.

Sometimes, most of the ailed patients die of diseases like, diphtheria, typhoid, Haam or Haambasanta (that is, measles), Dhanustankar (that is, tetanus), cholera, pneumonia, Kala-Azaar (that is, black-fever), diarrhea, et cetera.

Apart from this, these places of enclaves have no opportunity of maternity homes or such other institutions like that and so childing mother often dies premature death. The inhabitants of the enclaves have no other alternative but to take help of untrained country physician known as Kabiraj (that is, exorcist, or locally called Ojha) and also the quack, who (on failure to cure serious diseases,) treat these unfortunate women and their children with country made medicines or empiric cure.

The inhabitants of the enclaves have no idea about ‘Family Planning’. The girls of the Indian enclaves get early married due to the threat of Bangladeshi miscreants. It happens, when they are 12 or 13-yeatrs-old, which also compel them to attain early motherhood and premature death both.

Even, Road & Transport System has paralyzed, tottering condition of Drinking Water System, absent of Electrification System and Post & Telecommunication System and bad Sanitary System et cetera that have smashed the lifeline of the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves.

Natural Disaster

The rivers of the enclaves are not free from exploitation. These are the ideal places for pisci-culture years ago. These rivers are auctioned and the money acquired from this actuation is deposited to the exchequer of Bangladesh. This is how, the illegal influence of Bangladesh over these Indian enclaves enduring Indian natural wealth which in turn creating ecological imbalance in the entire region. The other cause of this is the destruction of the natural wealth, such as : chopping off the trees like Sal, Segun and such other things.

Problems of Indian Enclaves

The chhitmahalis have no strong organization. The reason is that they lack this type of experience. Added to this, it is their chief problem to arrange two-meals-a-day for they have neither men power nor any money. Many of them got disconnected with their family.

Further, no political organization came forward to form any such party for carrying on any movement, which could solve their problems related to food, shelter and cloth. As a result, the chhitmahalis devoid of human rights had to pass a pitiable life.

However, by 1960, an organization Chhitmahal Utbastu Samiti (that is, Enclave Refugee Committee) by name was formed. But, in fact, among the members of the organization, the original chhitmahalis were very few. Therefore, the question of rehabilitation of the uprooted chhitmahalis got priority instead of solving their chief problems. As a result, the organization took a wrong turn.

In the mean time, in 1997, the members of the Indian Enclave Refugee Association (IERA) sent 14 to 15 points a memorandum to the then Indian PM, Mr. Inder Kumar Gujral stating their pitiable plights as regards their lands in the enclaves and about their rehabilitation along with the question of exchange of land, but in vain. This apathy indicates a life-long distress to the inhabitants of the Indian enclaves and financial stringency. As a result, some of the inhabitants have turned half-mad as they are compelled to leave their paternal property.

“It is very remorseful for us that we have not done anything for these people so far their rights, security and rehabilitation are concerned …..”, said the septuagenarian ofHaldibari area in Coochbehar district under North-Bengal sector ofWest-Bengal, Sailen Chakraborty, who is the member of IERA.

In the year, 1999, the uprooted inhabitants of the Indian chhitmahal formed an organization, Association for Protection of Citizen’s Rights for Indian Chhitmahal Residents & Oustees (APCRICRO) by a convention at Haldibari in the district of Coochbehar under North Bengal sector of West-Bengal.

The policy makers of this committee were the inhabitants of the enclave. No one can have its membership if he or she is not related to these people. There is an advisory committee to guide the organization in every step of its activities.

The foremost works of this committee is to short out the basic problems and establish intimacy with other uprooted chhitmahalis, who live united. Presently, there are 48 committees interlinked with this organization.Before offering membership to anybody everyone is required to prove his identity, whether he or she is an inhabitant of the Indian enclaves.

Demands of Chhitmahalis

a) We the citizen of India and we owe allegiance to the Constitution of India and so we desire both honour and respect as the citizen of India.

b) Considering the clause under Indira-Mujib Pact, 1974 (01 Number Article of 12 Number Paragraph) and putting importance on the desires and needs of the Chhitmahalis, the problems are required to be solved.

c) The enclaves of India will have to be inter-linked with mainland through the system ‘corridor’, whenever and wherever possible.

d) Finding out the number of Indian citizens and uprooted refugees living in the enclaves and collecting and compiling all the data regarding the socio-economic conditions and forming a party with the inhabitants of the enclaves, refugees and Government of Bangladesh, a research work will have to be initiated.

e) The chhitmahalis, who were forced to come and take shelter in India due to riot at fray and devastation.

f) The Articles Number – 02 and Number – 03 of Indira-Mujib agreement regarding Adverse Possession are immediately implemented with a view to providing security of life and property and peace of the enclaves.