THELIGHTOFANDAMANS: Tsunami-affected Farmers on Warpath Once Again

Monday, December 5, 2011

Tsunami-affected Farmers on Warpath Once Again

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS | VOL 35 | ISSUE 20 | 2 DEC 2011

Tsunami-affected Farmers

on Warpath Once Again

By Staff Reporter

When the administration runs out of promises and solutions, they send the Tehsildars and Policemen to negotiate. Waiting seven years with a bundle of hollow promises hurled at them by the administration, the tsunami-affected farmers once again hit the road demanding distribution of the Rs 130 crore compensation package lying with the administration.

The tsunami affected farmers of South Andaman sat on a one-day token dharna at Tiranga Park on 24 November demanding the administration to immediately disburse the compensation package of Rs 130 crores sent by the Central Govt. Making their demands wide and clear, AP Mohammed, President, Gram Sudhar Sangham cautioned the administration not to play with their sentiments. He once again reiterated the long-forgotten demands of the tsunami farmers whose land is submerged under seawater. He also announced that the farmers will once again gather at Tiranga Park on the seventh anniversary of Tsunami to remind the administration about the promises made to them.

Speaking on the occasion, Manickam, Ex-Pradhan, Wimberly Gunj said that the farmers are left in the lurch without any clear explanation. He said that the farmers had demanded alternative land, but the administration failed to convince the Central Empowered Committee and later sought cash compensation.

Abdul Azeez, Pradhan Stewrat Gunj asked the administration to make public the minutes of IDA meeting held in June 2011? He also demanded a relief package for the farmers without further delay.

Saraswathi Narayan, Ex-Pradhan Sippighat also spoke on the occasion. She said that the administration has forgotten the old inhabitants of the Islands, whereas those tenants who just lost their household items were given shelters and free ration for a period of five years.

Hamza, a farmer from Stewart Gunj warned the administration that 26 December will be a new tsunami, when the affected farmers will gather in large numbers to protest the attitude of the administration towards the farmers.

Rajesh Lall, General Secretary, Gram Sudhar Sangham spoke about the Rajarhat Housing Scam, where land was allotted for tsunami victims by West Bengal government and is being diverted by land mafia.

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About The Light of Andamans

The Light of Andamans’ was born out of the zeal and determination to fight against the suffocating Kafkaesque atmosphere on the society that existed even after 30 years of Independence under bureaucratic rule. It was a hangover of the ‘Raj’that extended much too long in the Islands.

The Light of Andamans’ was started in 1975. The paper had always been a crusader, taking up the causes that no other newspaper would touch. In doing so, it very often stepped on the toes of the authorities and had to face persecution in the form of denial of advertisements and numerous court cases against it. For a small stint, the publication came to a halt in 2003.

Gezira Publications Private Limited took over the paper in the year 2005 and transferred the title in a bid to revive the second oldest newsmagazine from extinction and also to carry forward the mission.

The Newsmagazine, under the new management, has undergone a sea change both in form and content. It turned into a full-fledged tabloid with 10 pages with plenty of photographs making both pleasing to the eyes and soothing for the mind. “It has acquired a position where it influences the policies in vital matters concerning the development of the islands, protection of aboriginal tribes and addressing the problems of the disadvantaged groups. The newsmagazine is known and appreciated for its bold, free, fair and balanced reporting.”

Late Govinda Raju and his team worked very hard to rebuild the reputation, goodwill and a healthy new image of the newsmagazine brick by brick. After the demise of Mr Raju in 2010, the magazine is now being edited by Zubair Ahmed and published by Basudev Dass. The newsmagazine continues its mission of highlighting policy issues pertaining to the Islands.