Venkat & Sarthak Kanjilall
Katchal, November 23: Agitation continued in Katchal Island even today for not providing the 242 Sri Lankan Tamil settler families of Katchal Island,a resettlement package. Tomorrow will be seventh day of Protest and second day of relay-hunger strike. Three protestors sat in the relay hunger strike today while hundreds of other protestors stood for support.
The second day of the relay hunger strike will continue tomorrow and three other faces will be sitting in the relay hunger strike with the support of other protestors.
“We do not have any clue about the present status of our resettlement from Tribal area to non-Tribal area. Until and unless we get a deadline from the administration that how long it will take to resettle us from Katchal Island to South Andaman, we will continue the protest,” said Mr. Lawrence George Thomas, the Joint Secretary of Katchal Settlers’ Welfare Association.
The Joint Secretary further said that they are unable to avail any Government schemes, unable to take Government offered subsidy loans from Bank, not getting licenses and NOC from AC office, not getting DRM jobs. “Our entire community does not have toilet facilities, we are unable to avail Government of India scheme to construct even a toilet,” he added.
Mr. Lawrence George Thomas added that since 25 years, the small community is fighting for resettlement.
“Lots of hope given by administration but nothing is getting converted into reality hence frustration and anguish brewing among our community people. We do not have any clarity about our future, and we are living in 50 years old quarters, which are in dilapidated conditions without toilet facilities,” he added.
“We are in a DO or DIE situation, we can’t wait anymore, until and unless our demands are fulfilled we will continue the protest,” Mr. Thomas finally added.
