Campbell Bay, 07 Dec 2020
Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers of Katchal Island are protesting for their resettlement to South Andaman District for the 20th day today. Some of the female members of the community are also on relay hunger strike since last 15 days.
These settlers were settled in Katchal Island in the 1970s and two family members from each family were provided with work in the rubber plantation. Originally 49 families were settled in Katchal Island but today there are 242 families and about 1000 individual members in their community.
Yesterday the protesting settlers observed the black day by raising black flags in front of their houses and by participating in a rally. These settlers are now unhappy over the fact that no senior officer of Andaman and Nicobar Administration has visited Katchal even after 20 days of continuous protests.
They are demanding a timeframe for their settlement in South Andaman. The Tribal Council of Katchal Island, as well as the Tribal Development Council, have also written letters to different authorities demanding the resettlement of these Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers to a non-tribal area.
Nicobar Times spoke to the Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar District to know the stand of Administration on the Issue. The Deputy Commissioner informed us that the issue of resettlement in South Andaman is pending with the Revenue Department of Andaman and Nicobar Administration and is out of the purview of the District Administration. He further informed us that the District Administration has however solved several problems of the Sri Lankan Settlers. Deputy Commissioner, Nicobar added that they have solved the issue of electricity, the issue of fishing, the issue of collection of forest produce and has sanctioned works under the MNEREGA. He further informed that the residents of Katchal Island are not coming forward to work in projects sanctioned under MNEREGA.
The Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers are now planning to shut their homes and take all their belongings to the Office of the Special Relief Officer on 10th December. They plan to stay and cook on the road outside the office until some senior officials from Andaman and Nicobar Administration or Nicobar District Administration visit them.
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