Ensure equitable distribution of relief to tsunami victims
NHRC issues notice to all concerned States and the Centre
New Delhi, 13 January 2005
Taking suo motu cognizance of the calamity arising from devastating tsunami waves which hit large areas of coastal India, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the Commission expresses its deep sense of sorrow and concern for the unprecedented loss of life and property as a result of this catastrophic event. The Commission notes that the action is under way to provide immediate relief by the Central Government, the concerned State Governments, various other State Governments and national NGOs. The Commission is aware that the daunting task of rehabilitation is ahead. It is, therefore, essential that the Government machinery involved in rehabilitation is able to take all necessary steps for an equitable distribution of both relief as well as rehabilitation measures while maintaining transparency and ensure that the poor, destitute women, destitute children and all persons, who would be in greater need of the relief and rehabilitation measures, are not deprived or made to suffer and are well taken care of.
The Commission is of the opinion that in order to ensure smooth process of relief it is imperative that the concerned State Governments/Union Territories must at the earliest prepare and publicize a computerized list of persons, dead or missing, because of tsunami disaster as also list of the properties, which are totally/partially destroyed or damaged in the disaster. Such authentic list would help in smooth settlement of Insurance and other claims of the victims and expedite the rehabilitation process and also help the families to trace the missing persons.
To ensure that young widows and children are not sexually or otherwise exploited by unscrupulous elements it is desirable that the concerned State Governments/U.Ts. evolve a mechanism towards that end and preparation of a computerized list of such widows and children who are victims of tsunami disaster would not only be useful but shall also help the authorities to guard against their exploitation.
The Secretary, Home, Government of India, Chief Secretaries of Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as also the Administrators, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry to respond within eight weeks.
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Taking suo motu cognizance of the calamity arising from devastating tsunami waves which hit large areas of coastal India, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the Commission expresses its deep sense of sorrow and concern for the unprecedented loss of life and property as a result of this catastrophic event. The Commission notes that the action is under way to provide immediate relief by the Central Government, the concerned State Governments, various other State Governments and national NGOs. The Commission is aware that the daunting task of rehabilitation is ahead. It is, therefore, essential that the Government machinery involved in rehabilitation is able to take all necessary steps for an equitable distribution of both relief as well as rehabilitation measures while maintaining transparency and ensure that the poor, destitute women, destitute children and all persons, who would be in greater need of the relief and rehabilitation measures, are not deprived or made to suffer and are well taken care of.
The Commission is of the opinion that in order to ensure smooth process of relief it is imperative that the concerned State Governments/Union Territories must at the earliest prepare and publicize a computerized list of persons, dead or missing, because of tsunami disaster as also list of the properties, which are totally/partially destroyed or damaged in the disaster. Such authentic list would help in smooth settlement of Insurance and other claims of the victims and expedite the rehabilitation process and also help the families to trace the missing persons.
To ensure that young widows and children are not sexually or otherwise exploited by unscrupulous elements it is desirable that the concerned State Governments/U.Ts. evolve a mechanism towards that end and preparation of a computerized list of such widows and children who are victims of tsunami disaster would not only be useful but shall also help the authorities to guard against their exploitation.
The Secretary, Home, Government of India, Chief Secretaries of Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as also the Administrators, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry to respond within eight weeks.
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