NHRC to monitor relief and rehabilitation measures in earthquake hit areas; Team to visit affected Kashmir

New Delhi, 10 October 2005
The National Human Rights Commission has decided to monitor the relief and rehabilitation measures following the calamity resulting from the devastating earthquake, which hit large areas in Northern India, particularly the State of Jammu & Kashmir on the morning of 8 October 2005. It has directed that a team of senior officials from the Commission consisting of Dr. G.S. Rajagopal, Director General (Investigation), NHRC, Shri Ajit Bharihoke, Registrar (Law) and Shri A.K. Parashar, Deputy Registrar (Law) be sent to the affected areas in Kashmir. They have been asked to report on the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken so as to enable the Commission to take steps if necessary, for issuing proper directions or guidelines to the concerned authorities of the Central or the State Governments for the purpose of facilitating the performance of their task.
While expressing its deep sense of sorrow and sympathy to the next of kin of the deceased as well as those who have suffered injuries resulting from this catastrophe, the Commission has appealed for a concerted effort to be made by the Central Government, State Government and civil society to meet the consequences arising out of this tragedy. While noting that the Governments at the Centre and States have already initiated steps to provide immediate relief to the affected persons the Commission opined, it is essential that the Government machinery involved in the grant of relief and rehabilitation be able to take all necessary steps for its equitable distribution. At the same time, the Government machinery would have to maintain transparency to ensure that the poor destitute women and children, old persons and other marginalized sections of society who would be in greater need of relief and rehabilitation measures are not deprived nor made to suffer any further and are taken care of properly, it observed. The Commission appreciates that the task of rehabilitation is a daunting one in the light of the unprecedented loss of life and property.
After considering the information received from the NHRC Team, the Commission would decide on what further steps would need to be taken.
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