New Delhi: One minute after midnight on August 1, India and Bangladesh exchanged 162 adversely-held enclaves, ending one of the world's most difficult border disputes that had kept thousands of people in stateless limbo for almost 68 years.
There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India which were exchanged pursuant to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol and Instruments of Ratification which were exchanged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh on June 6-7, 2015.
Enclave residents on both sides of the border can now enjoy the benefits of nationality of India or Bangladesh and access civic services, education, health-care and other facilities provided by the two governments to their respective nationals.
After successfully completing the exercise of ascertaining nationality options of enclave residents, the ground has been prepared for the movement of residents who exercise the option of moving from an Indian enclave to Indian mainland.
Both governments have worked together to facilitate trouble-free movement of these residents before the stipulated date of November 30, 2015.
Other steps with regard to implementation of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol are underway in accordance with agreed modalities between governments of India and Bangladesh.
According to an estimate, around 37,000 people are living in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh while 14,000 people are staying in Bangladeshi enclaves in India.
India has sanctioned a Rs 3,048-crore package for rehabilitation of the people affected by the exchange of enclaves under the LBA implementation.
Between July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the entire process, including physical exchange of enclaves and land parcels in adverse possession along with boundary demarcation, is expected to be completed.
Comments
0 comment