Bhubaneswar: Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports regarding delay in distribution of relief materials to the victims of cyclonic storm Fani, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the state government Wednesday.
The development came after some media houses like Orissa POST highlighted the delays and non-distribution of relief materials to the cyclone-hit population.
A release from the rights watchdog said, “NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports of people facing hardships and were agitated over the relief material not reaching them in some parts of Puri and Khurdha districts. Reportedly, thousands of cyclone affected people struggling to get food and water took to the streets May 7, 2019. The police reportedly resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protesters.”
The NHRC had observed that the state administration, in collaboration with central agencies and NGOs, is trying to cope up with the situation but there seemed to be a necessity to identify areas which require immediate relief and rehabilitation. The apex rights body, going by the media reports, understands the difficulties faced by the residents of the affected areas of Puri and Khurda districts, it said.
The NHRC notice has been issued to Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi who has been asked to look into the contents of the news reports and take immediate steps to redress the grievances of the general public. The Chief Secretary has been asked by the NHRC to respond within six weeks of the issuance of the notice.
NHRC in its notice has referred to some news items wherein it was mentioned how the cyclone-hit people, who do not possess ration cards, were denied government benefits during the disaster. The reports also highlighted the plight of the residents of Binova Nagar slum and Jagannath Basti where people resorted to protests and blocked roads over denial of their rights.