Taking serious view of the non-response of the Bhadrak district administration in a case involving a destitute lady who is on the verge of starvation death, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued conditional summons to the Chief Secretary. “Despite issuance of notice and lapse of considerable time, the requisite report, has not been received. let a final reminder be sent to Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha calling for the requisite report within four weeks, failing which the commission shall resort to Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993,” said the latest order of the commission.
Citing the serious human rights issues of Gouramani, a destitute lady from Eram who has nothing in the world and nobody to take care of her and who also had touched the feet of a Minister for help, rights campaigner Radhakanta Tripathy moved a petition before the commission. The commission even had ordered the Collector for personal appearance before it on December 14 last year following which the district administration showed promptness and assured four decimile land with a shelter under Indira Awas Yojana, pension of Rs 300 per month and 35 kg rice to the victim. Considering the report of the Collector the NHRC sought response from Radhakanta, who in his rejoinder stated that the house under IAY granted in paper is yet to be constructed. Finally, the commission issued a conditional summons to the Chief Secretary last week.
