Expressing strong displeasure over the rehabilitation measures of the Odisha Government, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a complete report from the State Chief Secretary on various human rights aspects of the large-scale displaced masses in the State.
The NHRC passed the order after considering a couple of petitions and subsequent submissions filed by rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.
Tripathy alleged in his petitions that thousands of families in hundreds of villages in five districts such as Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Rayagada have been leading miserable lives without basic amenities and bare necessities of life.
He requested the Commission to ask the Odisha Chief Secretary to submit an action taken report on the report of Special Rapporteur of the Commission Damodar Sarangi on the issues raised by him and the recommendation made, within eight weeks.
Decades passed after the implementation of the Asia’s largest hydro-electric power project on Indravati in Odisha, but the project affected people still remain in the lurch, Tripathy lamented.
The Special Rapporteur in his report mentioned several violations of human rights by the inactive State officials.
He made as many 32 recommendations to be considered by the NHRC.
The apex human rights panel found all of the recommendations worthy as per the facts and circumstances of the case. The project affected people have been deprived of basic amenities and bare necessities of life and need serious Government attention and action, the report observed.
The NHRC recommended compensation, rehabilitation to the left-out cases, maintenance of livelihood to them through various means, ensuring child care, primary healthcare and education in the affected areas.