New Delhi: In a special humanitarian gesture, the MNF-led Mizoram government has ensured enrollment of about 2,000 Myanmarese children who fled their country following the February military coup.
The state school education minister Lalchhandama Ralte said the ill-fated children have also resumed their studies under the supervision of the state government.
The incoming people from Myanmar and young students are now spread across all the 11 districts in the state. Most of them were in the northeastern Champhai district and Hnahthial, Lawngtlai and Siaha districts in southern Mizoram.
Sourced said the "Myanmar students" were admitted in nurseries, primary schools, middle schools and high schools. Mizos share an ethnic affinity with some Myanmar ethnic groups and have been helping the incoming people who have not been declared or given refugee status officially.
Despite fund constraints, arrangements were being made to ensure that Myanmar displaced students would avail free uniforms, textbooks, and midday meals. Among those who were extended support also include 18 orphans, the influential social organisation Young Mizo Association sources said.
The orphans, aged between four and 19 years, have just completed their mandatory quarantine period and are being lodged at the relief camp in the outskirts of the village, an office-bearer of YMA said.
Officials said the state government, which had earlier sought the assistance of Rs 10 crore from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would soon send the data of the refugee students to the centre.
The Mizoram government has officially informed the centre that over 20,000 Myanmar refugees are now living in the state which neighbours Myanmar's Chin province by mid-September.
