NHRC recommends extension of RLTAP in KBK areas of Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Oct 12 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), probing the allegation of ''starvation deaths'' in KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) regions in Orissa, has recommended to the Planning Commission to extend the Revised Long term Action Plan (RLTAP) beyond 2007.

In its 19-page report submitted recently by NHRC Chairperson Justices A S Anand, Shivraj Patil, Y Bhaskar Rao and others, the Commission stated that the RLTAP has proved to be highly useful to deal with the situation prevailing in the KBK region.

Considering the crucial role of the RLTAP in achieving the ultimate objective of drought proofing, poverty alleviation and development saturation to improve the quality of life of the people in KBK region, the Commission recommended to the Planning Commission for further extension of the RLTAP beyond March 2007.

It also suggested the execution of all its projects under a system of surveillance and monitoring.

On the petition of one Chaturanan Mishra, the NHRC deputed a team of officers comprising the Secretary General and the Director General to the affected areas of the districts for an on the spot inquiry into the allegation of starvation deaths.

The team found that out of 21 starvation deaths investigated, 17 were attributed to high level of deprivation existing in the area as a result of extensive crop damage, inadequate income levels and insufficient relief measures. It concluded that prolonged malnutrition and hunger compounded by the disease had played a contributory factor to these deaths.

The Commission, however, made it clear that the issue under consideration was not of an adversial nature and should be treated as an exercise of a participative and constructive endeavour designed to develop a package of measures that could bring about perceptible improvement in the lives of the affected population in the KBK districts of Orissa.

The NHRC had earlier set out a practical programme of interim measures agreed upon by all the parties concerned including the state and the central government on various schemes and programmes undertaken in the KBK regions and asked the state government to submit performance appraisal report to it for examination.

On the Primary Health Care, the Commission recommended to the state government to give its utmost attention to appointment of Medical Officers in the KBK region and suggested that the shortage of medical specialists in the KBK districts required to be attended to at least posting of additional specialists from outside.

More UNI DP KK PDM RS1820