NHRC Seeks Report On Basic Amenities, Welfare Schemes In Odisha’s Koraput

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought report from the Odisha government regarding provision of basic amenities and implementation of welfare schmes in Koraput district.

The commission has asked the chief secretary and Koraput collector to submit action taken reports in a matter related to providing basic amenities and benefits of social welfare schemes to deprived people of the district.

Sources said human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy had in November, 2021 moved the commission seeking redressal of grievances of deprived people of Koraput and Keonjhar districts. ATR  has been sought in cases related to Koraput district.

Alleging that the applicants have not been ensured the benefits of all social welfare schemes of the state, the petitioner claimed that people residing in remote areas were deprived of welfare schemes and correction of record of rights (RoR) by the revenue authorities in Koraput district.

Taking cognizance of the complaints, the NHRC had on January 31 last year directed the chief secretary and Koraput collector to submit an ATR and remain present at an online hearing on March 28, last year.

Besides the petitioner, chief secretary, three additional chief secretaries representing home, water resources and revenue departments, principal secretary of Panchayati Raj department, collectors of Koraput and Keonjhar were present in the hearing.

The government had told the commission about the status of the complaints mostly related to social welfare schemes like housing schemes. It stated that some of the beneficiaries have been considered for the welfare schemes while others will be covered by the next Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) survey list.

The authorities said they will take care of rehabilitation and basic amenities of Koraput people. The NHRC had sought a compliance report in the matters within a period of six months.

The petitioner said though one year has lapsed, compliance of the assurance given to the commission by the officials is yet to be followed. Now, the commission has asked the officials to take requisite action in the matter within a period of six months.