DGP instructs SPs to appoint nodal officer for fast disposal
Getting compensation in Jharkhand is one of the most difficult tasks not only for ordinary but also for the relatives of high and mighty who have been a victim of extremism.
In a bizarre case widow of slain Janta Dal (United) MlA Ramesh Singh Munda had run from pillar to post since the leader was shot dead at Bundu to obtain compensation given for death due to naxal violence.
Munda, an MlA from Tamar, was shot dead in July 2008 at a school function at Bundu. Six years after the ghastly incident his wife got the opportunity to apprise DGP Rajiv Kumar about the apathy prevalent in the system. “Naxals had killed my husband and driver in 2008. However, till date I have received only Rs 1-lakh,” said wife of Munda Vasundhara Devi.
According a circular issued by Government of India in 2009 relatives of victim of naxal violence are eligible for a compensation of Rs 4-lakh. Two bodyguards of the Janta Dal (United) MlA, a party colleague and a student were also killed in the attack. The DGP asked Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar to dispose the matter as early as possible. The benevolent gesture of Jharkhand police to provide relief to the kith and kin of victims of naxal attacks has brought the ugly reality of the system which has failed even in high profile cases to provide relief to the aggrieved dependents of the unfortunate souls to the fore. The DGP Aapke Dwar, an initiative of the top cop was organized today to provide succor to the relatives of naxal attack victims.
The first of its kind in the series of the programme covered cases of compensation and jobs to the living dependents besides, providing a platform to raise their voices in front of DGP Rajiv Kumar. Almost all districts were connected through video conferencing with the Police Headquarters to share progress in cases of compensation and awarding jobs on compassionate ground to a victim’s relative.
Ironically, a State where virtually half of the population lives under constant threat of naxals is also where cases dating back to 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007 are pending for disposal by police as well as district administration. In most of the cases either a victim has been waiting for job or compensation.
The compassionate initiative has been a half success because of systemic failure of District Compensation Committee to conduct regular meetings to discuss merit of cases put for the approval of compensation to a victim’s kin. Also, in most of the cases district police has not been able to pursue cases with Ministry of Home affairs and lack of clarity regarding compensation laws were among the bottlenecks in the compensation process. Concerned with the number of pending cases the DGP ordered all SPs of Jharkhand to appoint a nodal officer in their districts to assess progress of cases related to compensation related to casualty in naxal attacks. “All SPs will now appoint a nodal officer and he will be examining progress in such cases on daily basis,” said Kumar. Notably as many as 1271 persons have been killed in naxal violence since Jharkhand was created with Gumla leading with 205 cases followed by Khunti 158 and Palamu 147.