NHRC asks UP Government to respond within two weeks to its team's report on relief and rehabilitation in violence hit Muzaffarnagar and Shamli Districts
New Delhi, 21st October, 2013.
PRESS RELEASE
The National Human Rights Commission, on the basis of its team's report on communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Uttar Pradesh in September, 2013, has asked the State Government and the District Administrations to look into its observations and recommendations and submit a report within two weeks.
It may be recalled that many persons were displaced from their homes and villages due to communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli Districts. They took shelter in relief camps set up in the two districts. Some of the displaced persons came from the villages where the violent incidents had actually taken place. Many persons from other villages felt apprehensive about their security and fled in panic.
The Commission had sent its team, led by Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Member, "to assess the measures taken by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced persons affected by communal violence and lapses, if any". The other members of the team comprised Mrs. Kanwaljit Deol, DG (I), Mr. A.K. Garg, Registrar (Law), Mr. C.K. Tyagi, Presenting Officer, Mr. S.K. Jain, SSP and Mr. Nitin Kumar, Inspector.
The team visited four relief camps in District Shamli on 10th October, 2013 and three relief camps and one violence affected village, Kutba, in District Muzaffarnagar on 11th October, 2013.
The team found that the living conditions in almost all the relief camps were appalling. The displaced persons were living in make-shifts tents, having no protection against the vagaries of nature. On 11th October, 2013, there was rain in the morning and when the team visited the camps, it found many tents were water logged. The inmates of the camps complained of insufficient supply of rations. Many of them expressed indignation over the partisan attitude of the police. The medical facilities at the camps were inadequate. In some camps, the team found some staff in white aprons but on enquiry found them to be quite incompetent. The inmates complained that only 4 or 5 generic medicines had been provided in the camps and the same medicines were being given for all sorts of diseases.
The team found CMO, Muzaffarnagar to be highly irresponsible and unreliable. During interaction with NGOs, it was reported that 8 persons had died in Loi camp but the CMO, Muzaffarnagar denied that there had been any death in the camp. On visiting the camp, however, the team found that two new born babies and 5 other inmates had actually died. Some students also met the team and expressed concern that due to displacement from their villages they may not be able to take the Matriculation and Intermediate examinations conducted by the UP Board.
On 18th October, 2013, DM Muzaffarnagar came to the Commission and members of the team had discussions with him. He reported that many persons had returned to their villages and the administration had identified 5 places where all the remaining displaced persons would be kept. He also reported that the damage caused to houses and movables had been assessed in the presence of the affected persons and the amount of compensation had been sanctioned by the State Government.
He also informed that the amount of compensation for houses and movables was being considered by the State Government for upward revision and, therefore, the disbursement of compensation had been withheld for the time being. The District Magistrate also told the members of the team that a Special Investigation Cell had been constituted for investigation of offences relating to communal violence and all the Investigating Officers in the Cell were from outside the District.
After assessment of the living conditions in the camps and discussion with NGOs and the District Administration by its team, the Commission has made the following recommendations for urgent consideration and compliance:
i) The names, parentage and addresses of all the displaced persons staying in the relief camps should be entered in a register. Maintenance of such register would help the administration in proper computation of relief material and distribution of such relief material in a transparent manner.
ii) Steps should be taken to improve sanitation in the camps. More toilets should be constructed. To prevent outbreak of vector borne diseases, anti-mosquito spray and fogging should be carried out on regular basis.
iii) Arrangements for providing drinking water should be made on priority basis.
iv) Steps should be taken to upgrade and improve medical facilities in the camp. Following steps should be taken in this regard.
a) Setting up of medical aid post in each camp.
b) Maintaining proper records like OPD register giving the names of the patients, the nature of illness and the medicines given.
c) More medicines should be made available.
d) More medical staff should be posted.
v) Monetary compensation should be considered for the families of those who died in the camps.
vi) In view of the approaching winter season, adequate preparation should be made including arrangement of winter clothes, blankets etc.
vii) It was reported that 13 persons are still missing. Immediate steps should be taken to trace them. The Government should consider formulating a policy for providing relief to the families of the missing persons after waiting for a certain period.
viii) The monetary compensation for loss/damage of houses and movables should be immediately disbursed. If the compensation is subsequently revised, the additional amount may be paid later.
ix) The complaints relating to offences should be faithfully recorded and FIRs should be registered under appropriate provisions of law. The investigation of offences should not only be fair and impartial but it should also be seen to be fair and impartial.
x) District Inspector of schools should visit the camps and identify the students who are to appear at the matriculation and intermediate examination conducted by UP Board. He should create a database and the Government should take appropriate decision to enable such students to continue their studies and take the matriculation and intermediate examinations. These displaced students have not been able to attend classes in their schools and colleges and, therefore, relaxation of attendance criteria may also be considered.
xi) The Nodal Officers appointed by the District Administration for the camps should be sensitized about their duties.
*****
The National Human Rights Commission, on the basis of its team's report on communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of Uttar Pradesh in September, 2013, has asked the State Government and the District Administrations to look into its observations and recommendations and submit a report within two weeks.
It may be recalled that many persons were displaced from their homes and villages due to communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli Districts. They took shelter in relief camps set up in the two districts. Some of the displaced persons came from the villages where the violent incidents had actually taken place. Many persons from other villages felt apprehensive about their security and fled in panic.
The Commission had sent its team, led by Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Member, "to assess the measures taken by the Government of Uttar Pradesh for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced persons affected by communal violence and lapses, if any". The other members of the team comprised Mrs. Kanwaljit Deol, DG (I), Mr. A.K. Garg, Registrar (Law), Mr. C.K. Tyagi, Presenting Officer, Mr. S.K. Jain, SSP and Mr. Nitin Kumar, Inspector.
The team visited four relief camps in District Shamli on 10th October, 2013 and three relief camps and one violence affected village, Kutba, in District Muzaffarnagar on 11th October, 2013.
The team found that the living conditions in almost all the relief camps were appalling. The displaced persons were living in make-shifts tents, having no protection against the vagaries of nature. On 11th October, 2013, there was rain in the morning and when the team visited the camps, it found many tents were water logged. The inmates of the camps complained of insufficient supply of rations. Many of them expressed indignation over the partisan attitude of the police. The medical facilities at the camps were inadequate. In some camps, the team found some staff in white aprons but on enquiry found them to be quite incompetent. The inmates complained that only 4 or 5 generic medicines had been provided in the camps and the same medicines were being given for all sorts of diseases.
The team found CMO, Muzaffarnagar to be highly irresponsible and unreliable. During interaction with NGOs, it was reported that 8 persons had died in Loi camp but the CMO, Muzaffarnagar denied that there had been any death in the camp. On visiting the camp, however, the team found that two new born babies and 5 other inmates had actually died. Some students also met the team and expressed concern that due to displacement from their villages they may not be able to take the Matriculation and Intermediate examinations conducted by the UP Board.
On 18th October, 2013, DM Muzaffarnagar came to the Commission and members of the team had discussions with him. He reported that many persons had returned to their villages and the administration had identified 5 places where all the remaining displaced persons would be kept. He also reported that the damage caused to houses and movables had been assessed in the presence of the affected persons and the amount of compensation had been sanctioned by the State Government.
He also informed that the amount of compensation for houses and movables was being considered by the State Government for upward revision and, therefore, the disbursement of compensation had been withheld for the time being. The District Magistrate also told the members of the team that a Special Investigation Cell had been constituted for investigation of offences relating to communal violence and all the Investigating Officers in the Cell were from outside the District.
After assessment of the living conditions in the camps and discussion with NGOs and the District Administration by its team, the Commission has made the following recommendations for urgent consideration and compliance:
i) The names, parentage and addresses of all the displaced persons staying in the relief camps should be entered in a register. Maintenance of such register would help the administration in proper computation of relief material and distribution of such relief material in a transparent manner.
ii) Steps should be taken to improve sanitation in the camps. More toilets should be constructed. To prevent outbreak of vector borne diseases, anti-mosquito spray and fogging should be carried out on regular basis.
iii) Arrangements for providing drinking water should be made on priority basis.
iv) Steps should be taken to upgrade and improve medical facilities in the camp. Following steps should be taken in this regard.
a) Setting up of medical aid post in each camp.
b) Maintaining proper records like OPD register giving the names of the patients, the nature of illness and the medicines given.
c) More medicines should be made available.
d) More medical staff should be posted.
v) Monetary compensation should be considered for the families of those who died in the camps.
vi) In view of the approaching winter season, adequate preparation should be made including arrangement of winter clothes, blankets etc.
vii) It was reported that 13 persons are still missing. Immediate steps should be taken to trace them. The Government should consider formulating a policy for providing relief to the families of the missing persons after waiting for a certain period.
viii) The monetary compensation for loss/damage of houses and movables should be immediately disbursed. If the compensation is subsequently revised, the additional amount may be paid later.
ix) The complaints relating to offences should be faithfully recorded and FIRs should be registered under appropriate provisions of law. The investigation of offences should not only be fair and impartial but it should also be seen to be fair and impartial.
x) District Inspector of schools should visit the camps and identify the students who are to appear at the matriculation and intermediate examination conducted by UP Board. He should create a database and the Government should take appropriate decision to enable such students to continue their studies and take the matriculation and intermediate examinations. These displaced students have not been able to attend classes in their schools and colleges and, therefore, relaxation of attendance criteria may also be considered.
xi) The Nodal Officers appointed by the District Administration for the camps should be sensitized about their duties.
*****