: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on June 8 served a fresh notice to the District Magistrate, Koraput, calling upon him to submit the requisite report within a period of four weeks over denial of bare necessities to the residents of six villages in Koraput district.
If the requisite report is not submitted within the stipulated time, coercive process u/s 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 would be initiated against him, the Commission warned.
Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakant Tripathy, the Commission issued such a direction.
Petitioner Tripathy alleged that till date more than 2,000 poor Scheduled Tribe villagers under Goluru Gram Panchayat of Nandpur Block in Koraput district, residing in the villages namely Gunjiaguda, Majhiguda, Chuaphula, Bilaput, Dumuriguda and Raipada have been deprived of bare necessities and basic amenities of life.
Lack of a bridge over Phatal river brings sorrows and sufferings immensely to the people. The pregnant women deliver without medical care as ambulances cannot enter the villages. At times the serious patients deliver in the boat and death also occurs due to medical care. The poor villagers have approached the district administration and the State authorities several times but in vain, Tripathy mentioned in the petition.
He further said the residents of the villages are yet to be ensured with potable drinking water, community toilets, all-weather roads. primary healthcare, education under RTE Act, playgrounds and open-air theatres. Most important to mention is that the villagers belong to an endangered tribal group, Tripathy cited.