Victims of communal violence suffer without rehabilitation

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Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, April 1: Those living in relief camps in Kandhamal district after the recent communal violence are leading a miserable life as the state government stopped relief operations on 15 March and is not allowing the NGOs for rehabilitation effort, said Right Reverend Dr. Samson Das, Bishop, Diocese of Cuttack here today.
Das was a part of the five-member delegation of Church of North India, who visited the trouble-torn Barakhamba to have a first-hand experience of the lives of the affected ones.
Addressing the press here today, he highlighted the plight of the people and said that much more needs to be done to get them to their earlier lives.
The government has stopped providing its own relief from 15 March and from that time, is supplying the affected with relief material collected from outer agencies like Red Cross and Delhi-based Eficor among others, Dr. Das said and expressed that this might not suffice.
‘We understand that the government may have stopped its arrangements as per official regulation like provision of relief for a certain period, but the alternative arrangement is of equal importance’, he further added and suggested that a number of our agencies, NGOs, organizations like theirs are ready to help.
“If the government fears the intention of the outer agencies, it should ensure the agencies function under close watch of its officers”, he suggested.
Hundreds of women and children live in misery and only government-sponsored help can serve little, he opined.
“We plan to call on the chief minister and request him to consider our help for the affected people. In fact, after the clash, we had called him and apprised him of the situation”, he said and pointed out that they will request the chief minister to consider the 10-point recommendation of the National Commission for Minorities including formation of one State Minorities Commission.
There is an urgent need of counseling, conflict management and social re~engineering, he suggested.