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Kandhamal: last relief camp to be closed in September

BERHAMPUR: Beginning of September would see the closure of last relief camp in the communal violence affected Kandhamal district .

It would also hint the return of peace to this volatile area after almost a year. The last relief camp for victims of communal violence which is all set to close down exists at a distance of 200 meters from Tiangia, a village on Katiangia-G.Udaygiri road. Around 50 families were camped in this relief camp. Speaking to The Hindu, the Collector of Kandhamal, Kishan Kumar said all arrangements had been made so that the families who were living in this relief camp could start a new life at their traditional place homes.

According to Mr. Kumar, 60 per cent of the families in the Tiangia relief camp were from the Tiangia village itself. Due to intervention of peace committees, the communal animosity has subsided and these families have accepted that peaceful coexistence is again possible in their village. The other families from nearby villages have also agreed to return back to their parental abodes. The Collector added that these families have been promised to be provided employment under NREGS so that they do not face any problem regarding their food and income after closure of the relief camp. Mr. Kumar said the administration had proposed to close down this relief camp in July. But it was not closed because its inhabitants had apprehensions of violence during the anniversary of murder of VHP leader Swami Lakshamanananda Saraswati in August. They agreed for the closure of the camp when their apprehensions were proved wrong, said Mr. Kumar.

Around 25,000 persons had left their homes during the communal violence that followed the murder of the VHP leader and four of his associates on August 23, 2008. The administration had opened up 13 major relief camps for the victims in the district.

Meanwhile, rehabilitation work was also on in the district. As per the data of the Kandhamal district administration, 1,981 houses of victims have been completely rebuilt. Seventy prayer houses and churches that had been damaged have been provided financial assistance from the State government for renovation. As per official estimate 4,600 houses had been damaged during the riots in the district 2008. The Collector said a total of 4,435 victims have received the first instalment from the State government to reconstruct their houses. Second phase instalment for reconstruction had been provided to 2,868 victims.

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