IMPHAL Aug 26: The Railway Affected Land Owners`™ Welfare Committee (RALOWCO) has demanded Rehabilitation and Resettlement package from the State government.
The affected families should be a part of the developmental benefits, said RALOWCO president Konthoujam Kumar Singh during a press meet at the Manipur Press Club today after submitting a four point memorandum to the Chief Minister.
RALOWCO is an organisation of families affected by acquisition of land for the construction of New Broad Gauge Railway line from Tupul to Imphal and a railway station at Malom by the Northeastern Frontier Railways.
The NF Railway would be acquiring 103.726 acres for the project.
Villages namely Konthoujam, Bamdiar, Malom, Tuliyaima, Yurembam, Lansonbi (Sagoltongba), Changangei, Salam, Luker, Tairenpokpi, Kangdabi, Haorang Keirel and Kiyam which will be affected by the land acquisition would be losing homesteads, farms, besides industrial and agricultural land, he said.
The organisation has sought intervention of the State government through their memorandum which demands four points which include monetary compensation of the acquired land based on the current market rates/values of prime areas.
The four point demand also include that since the land which is to be acquired for public purposed is their sole source of livelihood, the State government should designed an additional Rehabilitation and Resettlement package for an alternative livelihood for all the affected families, he said.
RALOWCO also seeks employment for the affected families which can commensurate with their competence either in the State government or the Railway Department, he continued.
It has also demanded an MoU that guarantees the affected families 50 % job reservation in the Railway Project in Manipur.
The press meet was also participated by other representatives of the organisation Dr Kh Lojitchandra, Laishram Ratam Khuman, Brojendro Konthoujam and Oinam Purnima Devi.