Source:http://andamanchronicle.com/content/view/5610/27/
Port Blair, March 29: Much has been talked about the Sri Lankan Tamil
Repatriates over the years, who were brought by the Govt. of India
decades ago as ‘rubber plantation workers’.
These repatriates were settled in a tribal land at Katchal, Central Nicobars
where they worked hard to create a plantation and struggled to survive
with whatever the
received out of it. Unfortunately unlike other settler communities in
the islands, the Sri Lankan Repatriates were always an eye sore to the
A&N Administration and Govt. of India. They were neither given a setter
status nor allotted any land. Moreover being settled in a tribal land,
these repatriates could not even claim for the plantations they were
looking after for decades.
Their situation had gone to such an extent that the Deputy Commissioner,
Nicobar had even denied them ‘Tribal Pass’ to go to their plantation, if
at all they came out of the tribal land for any reason.
As the population of the repatriates grew in number, with
inter-marriages among the Indian Tamils and Repatriates and also other
settlers, the politicians eyed them as a vote bank. There were
sympathies from the Tamil community of A&N Islands, which also attracted
more politicians.
Over the years there were various plans chalked out to re-settle this
community. Land was identified, projects were designed but unfortunately
till date nothing has been implemented on the ground.
“In order to relocate Sri Lankan Tamil repatriates from the Tribal area
of Katchal and re-settlement at Shaithan Khari Rubber Plantation, a
survey of persons of Sri Lankan Tamil origin was carried out. In 2009,
the Rubber Board conveyed their “No objection” for transferring the land
at Shaitan Khari back to A&N Administration along with existing 77 work
men already employed in the plantation and subject to concurrence of
Ministry of Commerce & Industry”, said the Minister of State, Ministry
of Home Affairs Shri Mullappally Ramachandran while answering to a
question raised by the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Rau.
The MOS further said, “The proposal also envisaged development of the
plantation in a phased manner by re-planning on a cost sharing basis
between the A&N Administration (50%) Rubber Board (43%) and the
beneficiaries (7%) by way of labour. One more proposal to resettle them
in South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman by locating an area of 98
hectare deemed forest land was also pursued”.
“The options were taken up with the authorities concerned. In the
meantime, the settlers filed a writ petition in the Hon’ble High Court
of Calcutta siting in circuit at Port Blair claiming for land and other
issues. The matter is subjudice”, the MOS added
In 2003 in a meeting held in Raj Niwas, it was decided that the Deputy
Commissioner, Nicobar and Director, Agriculture may formulate a definite
package for shifting the families to Shaitan Khari. They may also plan
an income generating scheme with suitable provisions for intercropping
at least in the initial stage of plantation. With no outcome of such
meetings and assurances, what else could have been a better solution
than filing a Writ Petition in the court of law. Unfortunately the step
taken by the repatriates too seems to be prolonging and the Andaman
Administration getting a perfect reply to any and all questions raised
in this regard. ‘The matter is subjudice’.
Port Blair, March 29: Much has been talked about the Sri Lankan Tamil
Repatriates over the years, who were brought by the Govt. of India
decades ago as ‘rubber plantation workers’.
These repatriates were settled in a tribal land at Katchal, Central Nicobars
where they worked hard to create a plantation and struggled to survive
with whatever the
received out of it. Unfortunately unlike other settler communities in
the islands, the Sri Lankan Repatriates were always an eye sore to the
A&N Administration and Govt. of India. They were neither given a setter
status nor allotted any land. Moreover being settled in a tribal land,
these repatriates could not even claim for the plantations they were
looking after for decades.
Their situation had gone to such an extent that the Deputy Commissioner,
Nicobar had even denied them ‘Tribal Pass’ to go to their plantation, if
at all they came out of the tribal land for any reason.
As the population of the repatriates grew in number, with
inter-marriages among the Indian Tamils and Repatriates and also other
settlers, the politicians eyed them as a vote bank. There were
sympathies from the Tamil community of A&N Islands, which also attracted
more politicians.
Over the years there were various plans chalked out to re-settle this
community. Land was identified, projects were designed but unfortunately
till date nothing has been implemented on the ground.
“In order to relocate Sri Lankan Tamil repatriates from the Tribal area
of Katchal and re-settlement at Shaithan Khari Rubber Plantation, a
survey of persons of Sri Lankan Tamil origin was carried out. In 2009,
the Rubber Board conveyed their “No objection” for transferring the land
at Shaitan Khari back to A&N Administration along with existing 77 work
men already employed in the plantation and subject to concurrence of
Ministry of Commerce & Industry”, said the Minister of State, Ministry
of Home Affairs Shri Mullappally Ramachandran while answering to a
question raised by the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Rau.
The MOS further said, “The proposal also envisaged development of the
plantation in a phased manner by re-planning on a cost sharing basis
between the A&N Administration (50%) Rubber Board (43%) and the
beneficiaries (7%) by way of labour. One more proposal to resettle them
in South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman by locating an area of 98
hectare deemed forest land was also pursued”.
“The options were taken up with the authorities concerned. In the
meantime, the settlers filed a writ petition in the Hon’ble High Court
of Calcutta siting in circuit at Port Blair claiming for land and other
issues. The matter is subjudice”, the MOS added
In 2003 in a meeting held in Raj Niwas, it was decided that the Deputy
Commissioner, Nicobar and Director, Agriculture may formulate a definite
package for shifting the families to Shaitan Khari. They may also plan
an income generating scheme with suitable provisions for intercropping
at least in the initial stage of plantation. With no outcome of such
meetings and assurances, what else could have been a better solution
than filing a Writ Petition in the court of law. Unfortunately the step
taken by the repatriates too seems to be prolonging and the Andaman
Administration getting a perfect reply to any and all questions raised
in this regard. ‘The matter is subjudice’.
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