Kendrapara: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Chief Secretary regarding denial of basic human rights to SC/ST villagers in Dhenkanal district.
Acting on a petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC sought a detailed report within four weeks.
Tripathy said the tribal residents of Kaju Sahi village in the Saptasajya gram panchayat of Sadar block are forced to dig pits on the sandy beds of streams to collect water. The only tube-well in the village had stopped working forcing Munda and Santal tribals to use unsafe water collected from pits, he added.
The tribals staying in the nearby villages of Bana Sahi and Majhi Sahi villages are also having the same problem, Tripathy said. They have access to tube-wells, but the water is not fit for human consumption. The tribals depend on forest streams for drinking water, he said.
Collecting water from the pits is dangerous as the villages are near a reserve forest from where elephants often stray into the area. One Mukuta Purty, a resident of Kaju Sahi, had a narrow escape while returning after collecting water from a pit in the nearby forest, Tripathy said.
The residents of the village do not have safe water, community toilets, all- weather roads, primary healthcare and accessible roads. This is a serious violation of human rights, Tripathy contended.
Adults and children have developed diarrhoea after consuming water from pits. Road connectivity is a major problem for the villagers. The villagers do not have basic facilities. Pregnant women are not given proper healthcare. In case of medical emergencies or fires, ambulances and the fire brigade can never come to the villages, Tripathy said.
The failure of the state to ensure basic facilities to the villagers is a violation of human rights, Tripathy said.
He requested the NHRC to seek a detailed report from the Chief Secretary and to issue an order to provide healthcare, education, all weather roads and safe drinking water to the villagers.
He also asked the NHRC to ensure that social welfare schemes, food security, education, maternal and childcare, electricity supply and vaccination facilities are provided to the villagers.
PNN