Centre’s succour to riot victims: a case of too little,too late?

They have said that relief camps and colonies still lie in shambles. Besides,unemployment is also affecting people across the state.

Yusuf Sheikh,the convener of Antrik Visthapit Hit Rakshak Samiti (Committee for the Protection of Rights of Internally Displaced),said: “When the Rs 3.5 lakh grants were announced as compensation in 2002,the state government backed out. Therefore,we filed a PIL on December 15,2008.”

“Now they are announcing this Rs 50-crore package. We welcome the initiative,but we are worried how long it will take for the state administration to disburse the funds?” added a victim representing the the 300-odd families from Naroda Patiya.

They were in Vadodara on Saturday at a meeting organised by the Antrik Visthapit Hit Rakshak Samiti and Aman Samuday. Meanwhile,conditions in the internally displaced colonies have not improved. A resident of Noorani Mohalla said: “We don’t have jobs. The banks do not give us any loans as we don’t posses proper papers for the houses we have been given. There are no roads,and water connections are also missing.”

Despite several visits by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other NGOs,the rehabilitation by the state government and the Centre has only partially covered the losses. Rupees 1.5 lakh was paid for the deaths and injuries,which was disbursed through the state government.

The recently announced Rs 50-crore package provides only 19 per cent compensation for the loss of residential proerty. Shaikh added: “What about the remaining 81 per cent loss ?”

Saturday’s meeting at Tandalja in Vadodara saw participation by around 400 people representing 82 colonies from across the state.