Though the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Kendrapada district Collector to submit a report on the rehabilitation of the displaced people of Satabhaya in December last and the time given has lapsed, the latter is yet to respond in this regard.
The issue of violation of basic human rights of 571 families of Satabhaya was brought to the notice of the apex human rights watchdog by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
He alleged that the villagers are forced to suffer due to failure of the State to ensure their basic human rights, safety and security for decades. Numerous deaths due to malnutrition, deprivation of primary education, maternity healthcare and migration of labour have been reported from the villages. Now, the Satabhya residents are to be shifted to Bagpatiya. There had been public unrest among the Bagapatiya residents. Tripathy had urged the Commission to issue direction to the Chief Secretary of Odisha to rehabilitate the victims and solve the problems permanently.
The Commission had directed the district Collector, Kendrapada, to submit a report as to whether the displaced families have been allotted land and the houses constructed; the village had been provided with the medical facilities, connectivity to the main roads, electrical connections and other basic amenities for a healthy life within eight weeks