JALAH, May 11 � Having given up arms for what one may call a �better life,� several erstwhile members of the proscribed National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) feel that they have been given a �raw deal� by the government. �There is no difference in the quality of life between a common prisoner and a NDFB cadre residing at the Barbari designated camp,� said the camp commander B Sugrib. Sugrib also said that the designated camp instead of being modeled on promoting quality life among its inmates appeared to be just the opposite.
According to him, there are around 127 NDFB cadres at the said camp. However, the number of dwellings at the said camp falls woefully short of requirements. He said that a typical dwelling at the camp can only house 4-5 members but presently such dwellings are literally packed like sardines with 10-14 inmates sharing the same room. Apart from congested living quarters , the inmates at the said camp are literally groping in the dark with electricity in short supply. In the night hours, the voltage becomes very low at the camp, rues Sugrib. Interestingly, the camp inmates have been demanding a separate electricity transformer to solve this problem, but the authorities concerned have thus far taken no steps to rectify the problem.
Lack of proper drinking water is another problem that the inmates at the camp are beleaguered with. Non-availability of pure drinking water has also triggered an outbreak of a number of diseases at the camp. According to Sugrib, the PHE department had promised to look in to the problem but thus far nothing positive has emerged from their end he add. Notably there is no provision for any educational and self-employment programme initiated by the government at the camp.
The camp in-charge R Serja said that cultural and sports activities are conspicuous by their absence at the camp. He further alleged that all the NDFB cadres had been facing security problems since the time they had been living at the camp. Though the standard operating procedure has been put in place in front of the camp by the Baksa police, it exists in name only. It may be added, a few houses of inmates were damaged by the storm that recently hit the state on April 25 last. Sadly, no government representative has come to take stock of the situation till date at the Barbari NDFB designated camp.
