Yes, it's official now. The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has found human rights violation with regard to relief and rehabilitation provided to flood victims in Gadag district. Passing severe strictures against Gadag district administration headed by Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Mousin, the SHRC has directed the State government to implement its observations immediately and file an action taken report to SHRC by December 31.
Villages of Kuralgeri, Mensagi, Hole Alur, Hole Mannur, Kurvinkoppa and Gadgoli, on the banks of Bennihalla and Malaprabha rivers in the district, were ravaged by floods in September.
As no help came to the flood-affected victims, many former MLAs, led by leader of Opposition in Legislative Council H K Patil, had criticised the DC and petitioned SHRC. Consequently, a team of SHRC comprising Justice R H Reddy and Justice B Parthasarathy visited the villages on December 20 and 21.
In its interim report submitted to the government on December 22, addressed to chief secretary, it has found human rights violations.
It has observed the district administration provided tin sheds for the people who lost their houses in floods. However, these sheds were of the size of just 10 feet by 10 feet, and more than six families were herded in each shed. These sheds had no door shutters or power. Also, no separate toilets had been provided for women and drinking water wasn’t supplied to them.
Though floods had occurred for three days in Bennihalla and Malaprabha, so far, the district administration had failed to provide relief to victims, the SHRC observed.
Basic facilities
The Commission directed that separate sheds be provided to each family and a separate shed provided for the people to bathe, specially for women. Door shutters should be provided to each shed along with power, it said. It also said drinking water should be supplied everyday.
The Commission has taken exception to the distribution of blankets and clothes to victims as each family was provided with only one blanket. It has directed that at least three blankets be provided to each family.
The Commission has also directed the government to provide ration properly to victims, ration cards to those who lost their cards in floods, proper health facilities, including regular visits by doctors and para-medical staff. Regular days should be fixed for these doctors to visit a particular village and dates announced to villagers.