For nearly twenty years, the villagers of Laika – marooned deep inside the wild heart of Dibru Saikhowa National Park – had waited. Every monsoon, as the swirling waters of the mighty Brahmaputra rose and surrounded them, the calls for resettlement grew louder, but solutions remained elusive. Promises came and went; hopes rose and fell. It took an extraordinary partnership between Mr. Swapneel Paul, District Commissioner of Tinsukia, and Mr. T.C. Ranjith Ram, Divisional Forest Officer of Digboi, to finally break the stalemate and offer the people of Laika a new beginning.
Their mission was fraught with logistical nightmares, bureaucratic hurdles, and intense resistance. Yet, through grit, vision, and sheer persistence, they achieved what was long thought impossible.
FINDING THE LAND
The first hurdle was a monumental one – finding a large enough tract of land suitable for the rehabilitation of over 1000 people. After painstaking surveys and numerous dead-ends, a 66-hectare stretch of degraded land in the Namphai Reserve Forest was identified. Necessary approvals were secured, but this was just the beginning.
Convincing nearby communities to accept the arrival of new settlers proved to be the biggest challenge yet. Initial reactions ranged from suspicion to outright hostility. It took multiple rounds of patient dialogue and negotiation to turn the tide.
“There were moments when it felt like every step forward led to two steps back,” said Mr. Paul to Indian Masterminds “But we kept at it. Listening to people, addressing their fears, and building trust was the only way.”
A JOURNEY AGAINST THE CURRENT
Bringing the families from Laika to Namphai was a task that read like a chapter out of an adventure novel. With the Brahmaputra in full strength, transporting hundreds across its treacherous waters required meticulous planning and nerves of steel.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was roped in to execute the delicate operation. Over several carefully coordinated phases, families made the difficult crossing, leaving behind not just their homes but a way of life they had known for generations.
“It wasn’t just a physical relocation,” Mr. Paul shares. “It was emotional, symbolic – a crossing into hope after years of uncertainty.”
BUILDING NEW LIVES
The administration didn’t stop at merely shifting the people. They ensured the new settlements would have the building blocks for a better life. Through convergence of various government schemes, two new villages quickly began to take shape.
New Anganwadi centres and schools sprang up. Housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) provided sturdy roofs. Toilets were constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), and agricultural extension services were introduced to secure livelihoods.
“This wasn’t about dumping people onto empty land,” emphasizes Mr. Paul. “It was about creating vibrant, self-sustaining communities where they could dream again.”
RECOGNITION
This resettlement marks the first real breakthrough in a law-and-order and humanitarian crisis that had festered for two decades. For their leadership and commitment, Mr. Swapneel Paul and Mr. T.C. Ranjith Ram were awarded the prestigious Karmashree – Assam CM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration, 2023-24.
Yet, even as they celebrate this milestone, the mission isn’t over. Approximately 200 families from Laika still await resettlement. The administration is actively scouting for suitable land to complete the historic rehabilitation process.
“Our work has just begun,” Mr. Paul says. “Every family deserves a future free from the fear of floods and the loneliness of being forgotten.”
