Venkat & Sarthak Kanjilall
Katchal, November 22: Nearly 242 Srilankan Tamil Settler families of Katchal Island are all set to sit in a relay hunger strike from tomorrow, as their long pending demands were not fulfilled by the Administration, protesting families alleged.
“Even after doing candlelight protest, chakka jam, and submitting the Ration Card, Election Card and other Government Issued documents to the Special Relief Officer in the last five days, nothing happened, we have no other option to die, hence we have decided to go on a relay hunger strike,” said a Sri Lankan settler at Katchal Island.
The Government of India under the rehabilitation package scheme Sasthri- Srimao Bandaranayaka pact of 1964 had settled 48 Sri Lankan Tamil families, in Tribal Island, Katchal of Nicobar Groups, in the year 1974 and 1976 and given employment in daily wages with half hectare land without any legal rights in Andaman and Nicobar Plantation Rubber Board.
Over the years the Rubber Plantation became a loss-making unit leaving these families, who are now a total 242 in number, in total distress.
Moreover being a Tribal Island, for the third generation decedents of the Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers it has become impossible to carry out any kind of business or purchase land for the secure future.
After the 2004 Tsunami, life for these outsiders has become more difficult because of added restrictions over outsiders in the Tribal Island Katchal.
Demanding a permanent settlement package, like other groups of settlers have been given by the Government, these Sri Lankan Settlers had moved to court in 2010, after which the court had ordered the A & N Administration to prepare a proper settlement package for them.
“After we denied to take the package prepared by Administration which offered only a 200 sq meter land with a tsunami shelter at Little Andaman Island, the administration assured us in the year 2018 that they will provide1-hectare land to the first Srilankan settlers of 47 families at Kadakachang but nothing happened yet, in that regard forcing us to take this step,” alleged Lawrence George Thomas, the Joint Secretary of Katchal Settlers’ Welfare Association.
