Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 20 January 2025
In November 2020, the Sri Lankan Tamil settlers of Katchal Island began a protest, demanding their resettlement to a non-tribal area due to the numerous challenges they had been facing since their settlement. The protest escalated into a 134-day-long relay hunger strike, which ended on 31st March 2021 after state leaders of the BJP visited Katchal and assured the settlers that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Central Government were working on a resolution. The visit of the BJP leaders followed a meeting held on 30th March 2021 in Sri Vijaya Puram between the administration officials and the Katchal Settlers Welfare Association.
The urgency of this issue had been raised in the Lok Sabha through Questions No. 3529 and No. 1145 in 2003 and 2012, respectively, by Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, regarding the formulation of a resettlement package for the Tamil repatriates of Katchal. Assurances were given by the Government, but despite these efforts, no resolution was reached. Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, who is also the current Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has consistently raised the issue during all his tenures, yet the settlers continue to suffer in silence as promises remain unfulfilled.
The Sri Lankan Tamil settlers of Katchal Island, relocated under the 1964 Shastri-Sirimavo Bandaranaike Agreement, find themselves caught in a decades-long struggle for resettlement, dignity, and basic rights. Despite repeated appeals, protests, and assurances from authorities, the community continues to face significant hardships that remain unaddressed, leaving them in a precarious state of existence.
Historical Background:
Between 1964 and 1976, 78 Tamil repatriate families were settled in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under a rehabilitation scheme. Of these, 26 families were allotted agricultural land in Little Andaman along with monetary and housing support, enabling them to integrate and sustain their livelihoods.
In stark contrast, the remaining 48 families were settled in Katchal Island, a tribal area, under much less favourable conditions. Each family was given only 0.5 acres for a kitchen garden, with no formal title deeds or legal ownership over the land. Employment opportunities were limited to daily-wage jobs with the Rubber Board, leaving the settlers without secure livelihoods or land rights.
Challenges Faced by the Settlers:
The settlers’ challenges are multifaceted, with critical issues persisting for nearly six decades:
1. Lack of Land and Livelihood Opportunities: Without agricultural land or rights, the settlers are unable to sustain themselves. Their livelihoods were further impacted by the closure of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Plantation and Development Corporation Limited (ANIFPDCL) in 2017.
2. Precarious Living Conditions: The quarters provided to settlers are unsafe, particularly during inclement weather. The deteriorating infrastructure poses a serious threat to the families.
3. Emotional and Financial Strain: The unresolved status of their resettlement has caused significant psychological and economic hardships for the settlers, as promises of solutions have repeatedly gone unfulfilled.
4. Discrimination in Settlement Packages: Unlike their counterparts in Little Andaman, who received better support, the Katchal settlers feel marginalised and neglected, as their settlement has been deemed unsuitable for sustainable livelihoods.
Unfulfilled Promises:
Several resettlement proposals have been made over the years, but none have materialised:
– In the early 2000s, proposals to allot agricultural land in South Andaman were dropped due to local objections.
– In 2017, a resettlement package including agricultural land was announced but never implemented.
– In 2021, after a 134-day hunger strike, discussions began on resettling families with financial support. However, the plan stalled.
– In 2023, a proposal to resettle the families with housing and monetary aid remained unfulfilled.
A Forgotten Struggle:
Despite assurances from the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and Central Government officials, the plight of these settlers remains unresolved. The lack of significant developments post-2023 has left the families disillusioned and struggling in silence.
The Way Forward:
The Sri Lankan Tamil settlers of Katchal Island urgently seek a comprehensive resettlement package that includes:
– Allotment of agricultural land.
– Secure housing and basic amenities.
– Employment opportunities and financial assistance.
Resolving this issue is not just a matter of policy but a moral imperative to ensure equality, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods for these families. As their voices fade into the background of bureaucratic delays, the hope for a brighter future rests on swift and decisive action by the authorities.