The opposition party of Tripura CPI-M claimed that the people of Tripura's tribal inhabited areas were regularly crossing over to Bangladesh to collect food and return home and demanded that the areas be declared as "distressed."
"I have visited many areas, mainly in Dhalai district where indigenous people live in hill areas. They cross the Indo-Bangla border to collect forest products to earn their livelihood. Due to starvation they are doing it. It is a matter of shame," CPI(M) MP Jiten Chowdhuri told reporters in Agartala on Tuesday. Reports PTI.
"Three to four hundred people everyday cross the border and return after collecting forest products including medicinal plants," the CPI(M) Central Committee member said.
Chowdhury, who is also the president of the party's tribal wing Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), said the BJP-IPFT government should declare the areas as "distressed" and take appropriate measures without any delay.
However, no minister or government official was available to comment on the issue.
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