Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 14: The Members of Katchal Settler Welfare Association have decided to stage a relay Hunger Strike if nearly 40 youths under their Association are not provided with a job on atleast Daily Rated basis, till their resettlement plan is finalised by the Administration.
Putting forward this demand the Association has also organised a token strike at Mildera Village, Katchal on 07th December, 2017.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Mr Lawrence George Thomas, Joint Secretary, Katchal Settler Welfare Association said that the Rubber Board Corporation they were working with, since years, has now been closed down by the Government of India and Katchal being a Tribal Area self employment is completely denied to them.
“After the Corporation was closed, we were left jobless. Katchal being a Tribal Area we are denied of self employment and under this situation how we will survive. We are even unable to send our children to school, therefore if we are not provided with some kind of job till our resettlement plan is finalized, we have no other way left than dying organising a relay hunger strike,” said Mr Lawrence.
On behalf of Katchal Settler Welfare Association, Mr Lawrence has requested the Andaman Nicobar Administration to consider their genuine demands as soon as possible so that these handful of people can atleast survive.
