Neglected victims of Baksa rebel attack pin hope on polls

Guwahati: Elections mean little to the victims of 2014 militant attacks, languishing in the refugee camps in Baksa district for the past two years. They say none of the political parties care for them. They have nothing to lose, only live with the hope to have a better life.
Nevertheless, they will exercise the only right they can -the right to vote."We want to live like any other citizen of the state. But I doubt that election can bring a change to our lives. We were attacked for no reasons and lost our near and dear ones in our own land.
This is the worst thing to happen to a person in today's world," Ashma Khatun, who lost four of her relatives, said from Khagrabari camp in Baksa.
Khatun and her fellow inmates have been living in these makeshift camps since May 2014 after armed militants opened fired at villagers in Baksa district killing 41 people, including women and children.
"Will a party change our fate after it comes to power? We have suffered a lot. The state government had promised a lot to us but these were never materialized. We continue to struggle for a normal life. We are still hoping that someday we will see better days. We will vote hoping for a secured future," said 70-year-old Abdul Hamid, another inmate of the camp.
They have been seeking a proper rehabilitation. The state government has reportedly disbursed funds to the tune of Rs50,000 for the inmates but they did not receive the sum. Besides, after spending around two years in camps they are now worried about the future of their children.
"Some of the families have sent their children to their relatives' place and they have started going to schools. This arrangement is not possible for all of us here. At least if we can have a school for our children here it will be of great help," said Khatun.
Over 40 households are presently residing in camps here. People here either work as daily wage earners or do some part-time jobs to run their families.