KSYC opposes land allotment to VVKI Trust, slams KAAC

From a Correspondent

HAMREN, May 16: The Karbi Students and Youth Council (KSYC) held a press meet on Tuesday at the KSYC office where  Rajendra Kramsa, president (KSYC), secretary general Rajip Tokbi and most of KSYC leaders were present. They opposed the allotment of land in the incomplete Havarpi Tourist Complex, measuring 62 bigha 2 kotha 14 lessa, including 1 RCC building, two staff quarters and a mini park with RCC sheds to Vyakti Vikash Kendray India (VVKI) Trust, Bengaluru by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.

“It is a glaring instance of systematic separation of tribals from their land in a constitutiolly specified ‘tribal’ area.  The allotment should be cancelled with immediate effect and the beneficiary, Vyaki Vikash Kendray India (VVKI) Trust should leave possession of the land. It is learnt that the Havarpi Tourist Complex was built on land doted by some persons of the locality as part of the project undertaken by the KAAC for promotion of tourism in Karbi Anglong. It was left incomplete. The land should be returned to the donors if the KAAC has abandoned the project,” said the KSYC leaders.

“The KAAC is supposed to take protective measures for protection of land in tribal area and the interest of the tribal people, who on account of their primitive condition and lack of awareness, are not in a position to protest their land holding from non-tribal migrants. Paragraph 3(a)  of the Sixth Schedule also confers legislative powers to the KAAC to make laws with  respect to the allotment,  occupation or use,  or the setting apart of land,  other than any land which is a reserved forest, for the purposes of agriculture or grazing or for residential or other non-agriculture purposes or for any other purpose likely to promote the interest of the inhabitants of any village or town. But the allotment of land to the VVKI trust is against the interest of the Karbis and other indigenous hill tribes proper of Karbi Anglong. The KAAC, therefore should cancel the allotment with immediate effect,” said the leaders.