Improve rehab package of Kandhamal victims: NCM

PTI | 10:09 PM,Sep 14,2010

Phulbani (Orissa), Sep 14 (PTI) Strongly favouring improved rehabilitation package for victims of 2008 riots in Orissa's Kandhamal, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) today asked the administration to focus on providing jobs and self-employment avenues to the affected people."It will be proper if rehabilitation package for the riot victims is improved and money given for reconstruction of destroyed and damaged houses is enhanced," NCM vice chairman H T Sangliana said during a visit to communally-sensitive Kandhamal district.Stating that the rehabilitation work in the riot-hit district was by and large satisfactory, he said enhanced financial assistance for house construction would enable the affected people restart normal life soon.Sangliana, who visited rehabilitation centres and interacted with people in Nandagiri, Hatapada and Paburia areas of G Udaygiri block, said the riot victims found it difficult to get employment after being rehabilitated.Therefore, the administration should take steps to provide job opportunities in the form of poultry, fishery, piggery, animal husbandry and horticulture, he said adding efforts need to be made for self-employment avenues.Besides examining the financial condition of the violence affected people and their security, the NCM vice chairman studied the eduction scenario and health services in the district too.Concrete steps were needed to ensure resumption of studies by children and other students as many of them had discontinued studies due to violence, he said.Sangliana is likely to interact with Christian leaders, NGO activists and district officials here tomorrow, sources said.