By Francis Khongwar
Shillong (Meghalaya), April 27 : The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) today strongly opposed the Shillong Harijan Panchayats demand to provide 2,000 Square feet of land per family.
The KSU asked the state Government not concede to their demand.
The KSU also said the Shillong Harijans should not act as the youngest daughter in the Khasi community.
Earlier on Monday, Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) demanded the Meghalaya government provide 10 acres of land within the European district and bear the cost of building their homes in exchange for the land the state took in Them-Iew Mawlong. .
The Meghalaya government held a crucial meeting with the Harijan Panchayat Committee to discuss the relocation of the 342 families residing in the Harijan colony.
Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) Secretary Gurjit Singh said, “In exchange for our land in Them Iew Mawlong (3.33 acres), we want the state government to give us 10 acres of land so that each of the 342 families get 200 square meters. .”
Singh said the committee is not against relocation as long as the state government complies with the demands. “The government agreed to house the 342 families in the European pavilion. We have made it clear that we are not against relocation, but if the government wants to relocate us, it must consider HPC’s demands,” he said.
“We don’t want multi-story buildings, but the government must provide land and cover the cost of building the houses,” he added.
Explaining the rationale behind the demands for 10 acres of land and financial assistance for the construction of the housing complex, he told reporters, “Our land in Them Iew Mawlong is 3.33 acres. So, in exchange for that land, we want the state government to give us around 10 acres of land considering the valuation of the existing 10-acre property is feasible. Legally, the valuation of our existing property is more”.
It may be mentioned that the current colony of sweepers has about 3.33 hectares.
