Seven years after their land was acquired for Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) camps in Siddarthnagar district, poor farmers in the terai border region are yet to get any compensation. Left landless and with no jobs at hand, they are fighting to earn a living for their families.

The state government had in 2002 acquired hundreds of acres of land, all agricultural fields, for a permanent camp of the SSB, a paramilitary force guarding the Indo-Nepal border, in Siddarthnagar district that shares about 15 km of open border with Nepal.

According to Mohammad Nase-em, Ahmad, Jameel, Rafeeq and Mohammad Muqeem Abdullah — all residents of Sadar tehsil — about 500 bighas of agricultural land were acquired for the SSB’s battalion. Naseem had to give up 15 bighas of land at the time of acquisition.

“We are at the verge of starvation. Our land is gone and we have no work. How do we feed our families,” asked Narendra Prasad, a farmer.

SSB DIG Brij Som said money in lieu of the land has already been paid by the paramilitary force to the district administration. Vinod Naik, commandant of the 2nd Battalion of SSB stationed at Siddarthnagar also supported Som’s stand.

“The land was acquired by the district administration. We have deposited about Rs 6 crore with the district magistrate of Siddarthnagar,” Naik said.

Siddarthnagar DM Shashi Kant Sharma said he would look into the matter and take necessary action.