Government Grants Harijan Panchayat Committee 15 Days to Decide on Relocation
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 10: The Meghalaya government has allotted a 15-day window to the Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) to deliberate on their relocation issues. Since 2018, the relocation of settlers from Harijan Colony has remained unresolved. The matter was discussed in a meeting held on Saturday with Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and representatives from the HPC and other Sikh organizations. The focal point of the discussion was the relocation of the 342 families residing in Harijan Colony.
"A few more issues need to be ironed out. The government has agreed to give them 15 days to take a decision and communicate with us,” Dhar stated. He added that the HPC wishes to consult larger organizations to ensure everyone is on board. Earlier, the HPC had accepted a proposal, including a blueprint for their relocation to the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) quarters on Bishop Cotton Road.
Addressing concerns about external interference, Dhar emphasized that the matter is strictly between the government and the HPC. The HPC members expressed their satisfaction with the meeting’s outcomes. Jagdeep Singh from the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee referred to it as fruitful, despite pending issues that he did not elaborate on.
The Harijan Colony, also known as Punjabi Line, has been home to individuals from Punjab, brought to Shillong around 200 years ago by the British to work as sweepers and manual scavengers. The push for their relocation intensified in 2018 after violence in the city necessitated a near two-month curfew. The area continues to be under police surveillance to maintain order.
The upcoming decision from the HPC is crucial, given the longstanding displacement issue and the community’s historical significance in Meghalaya. The next 15 days will be pivotal in determining their future and the potential resolution of this prolonged conflict.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/08/11/hpc-given-15-days-to-decide-on-relocation/
Category : MEGHALAYA
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