The Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) today said that the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC), the group representing the residents of Them Ïewmawlong, is trying to dictate unfair terms to the state government.
The HYC wants the government to reject the demands, such as for land and houses to be bought at the government’s expense in the names of the Them Ïewmawlong residents in European Ward. The HPC laid out these requirements before it will agree to be relocated.
HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said that, instead, the government could provide quarters to the residents but then should also provide such facilities to all government employees. The pressure group also suggested that the government provide a house rent allowance to the residents and let them stay wherever they want.
It is the contention of the HYC and other pressure groups that many of the residents of Them Ïewmawlong are not bonafide residents but illegal settlers. Kharjahrin said that any such illegals should be evicted otherwise a bad precedent will be set and this will encourage further encroachment on public property.
If the government accedes to the demands of the HPC, Kharjahrin said that the HYC is ready to help landless Khasi people take over government property to demand free housing.
