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Relief slow in reaching victims

BERHAMPUR: Private organisations and individuals do not seem to be interested in providing relief material to the victims of communal violence through the State government.

The State government has banned distribution of relief material in Kandhamal district by any individual or organisation. This decision was taken to check possibilities of escalation of tension during distribution of relief material due to allegation of partisan attitude of distributors. A senior administrative official in Kandhamal district alleged that many organisations interested in distributing relief have links with political or religious organisations and their entry with relief material could have affected the volatile situation in the district.

The State government had appealed to all organisations and individuals interested in providing relief material to the Kandhamal victims to deposit their relief materials with the administration or the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) for their centralised distribution.

But, according to the under secretary of the SRC, Gopabandhu Dash, no private agency has come forward to provide relief material for distribution to the SRC although they continue to allege lack of distribution of proper relief material in Kandhamal district.

According to SRC N.K. Sundaray, the people of Kandhamal district have their confidence in them as they were distributing relief material in a non-partisan way. Each homeless victim had received at least two sets of dress material and two blankets.

More than 4,000 blankets were distributed to the victims living at relief camps at Barkhama, Baliguda and Brahmanigaon. Sweaters and dress material for children were also provided, said Mr. Dash.

Around 1,000 sweaters were distributed to victims on Wednesday.

Ten tons of cattle feed was also provided for the bovine pets of victims. Special veterinary camps were organised near the relief camps.

More than 1000 sets of utensil kits were already disbursed to homeless families. The free kitchen for the homeless would continue till they have their own houses again.

No private agency has come out to provide necessary relief materials to the SRC.

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