All India Kishan Sabha organised protest demonstration for rehabilitation of the evicted people of Rajanikjhal

July 2: Around 500 persons belonging to 82 families were evicted from Rajanikhal area under Hawaithang Forest Range, Dholai Bazar on 7 June, 2019. Eleven elephants were used to break their settlements. Since then, these people are dwelling in a nearby paddy field of another person. The owner of that paddy field has also asked them to vacate his field for purposes of cultivation. Many have even become affected by various diseases. Citing all these reasons, the Bam Dholai Anchalik Committee of All India Kishan Sabha organised a protest demonstration near the Khudiram statute, Silchar on Tuesday.

Later on, a memorandum was also submitted by them to Laya Madduri, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar. In the memorandum, they stated that these families have been dwelling in the waste and unused forest hill land at Rajanikhal since the last 40 years. Staying over there, they have got their names enlisted in NRC and voter list. They were also enjoying several benefits like electricity supply under Deendayal Upadhyay scheme of BPL and APL, Annya Suraksha, old-age pension, job cards. Roads were also constructed in their place of residence under MNREGA. Kishan Sabha further claimed that these people were maintaining a sustainable livelihood by protecting the forest resources.

They further alleged that by giving a very short term notice, the Forest Range Officer of Dholai evicted them in an inhuman way. Their houses were broken apart by using 11 elephants. All their belongings were either broken or thrown away. Their main grievance is that since then almost 22 days have passed, but district administration has not bothered to enquire about their well-being. At present, they don’t have a roof over their head. Poverty and disease have captivated their lives.

It is in this backdrop that the Kishan Sabha has demanded financial assistance/compensation from the district administration and to provide rehabilitation to them. They also appealed to provide medical facilities to the people who were severely ill.