The youth wing of the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has come out against the demands of the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) concerning the relocation of Them Ïewmawlong, saying that they would violate the state’s Land Transfer Act.
The HPC has asked for around 200 sq metres of land to re-house every family on government land if they are to agree to a move. This is more than 9 acres for the 300-plus families. The Land Transfer Act prohibits the transfer of most land in the state to non-tribals.
“We have seen that the Harijan Panchayat Committee has demanded 10 acres of land and monetary help from the government for building houses for them permanently, before relocation. We strongly oppose this ambitious demand.
If the government considers such demands, it will be a clear violation of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act,” KHNAM youth wing president Thomas Passah told Highland Post.
He said that the residents of Them Ïewmawlong are employees of the Shillong Municipal Board and they are being provided with quarters as long as they are in service and it is up to the wisdom of the government as their employer where to house them.
“We have also seen that they want all the people of Them Ïewmawlong to be kept in the same place and permanently. We hope the government does not succumb to such demands and if the government considers such demands then employees of other government departments will also have to be given the same privileges and they also should be allowed to hold quarters permanently from one generation to another,” he said.
While the party appreciated the government for taking steps to address this long pending issue, it felt that extra care should be taken in resolving the matter.
