The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent notice to the Health and Family Welfare Secretary over unknown fever to more than 100 triabls at Nayakota panchayat in Keonjhar district where doctors and medical authorities did not reach timely.
Taking cognisance of the complaint filed by rights campaigner Sangita Swain, the NHRC has directed Secretary Arti Ahuja to provide answers within four weeks. According to Swain who is also the secretary of Angul-based Human Rights Watch, a body working for the protection of human rights of people, though more than 100 tribals were affected in an unknown fever at Nayakota panchayat under Bansapal block, neither the health officials nor the doctors visited the area which has no proper communication facility.
“The health department’s negligence amounts violation of human rights of the tribals. Though the hospital is situated 10 km away from their villages, they could not go there due to poor communication facility resulting in a serious mental and physical harassment to them,” alleged Swain.
Swain has urged the commission to initiate criminal/disciplinary action against the doctors and concerned authorities for not ensuring timely treatment to the poor people. She prayed the commission to also ensure a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the kin of the deceased who have died in the fever and also 10 lakh who suffered from the unknown disease.