Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Sept 01: Members of nearly 161 families of Sri Lankan Tamil Settlers have intensified their protest recently against Andaman and Nicobar Administration demanding a respectable package for their permanent settlement.
The Government of India under the rehabilitation package scheme under the 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 in Andaman and Nicobar Plantation Rubber Board.
Over the years the Rubber Plantation became a loss making unit leaving these families, who are now total 161 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 a land for the secure future.
After 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.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Lawrence George Thomas, the Joint Secretary of Katchal Settlers’ Welfare Association alleged that the present package prepared by Administration offers them only a 200 sq mtr land with a tsunami shelter at Little Andaman Island.
“This is nothing compared to the package given earlier to other settler families. Moreover the land allotted for our package is in remote Little Andaman Island, that too, in a very interior place,” he added.
To express their anger member of all members of 161 families have organised a protest recently in Katchal Island recently. Similar rallies were organised in past also.
