Naveen announces relief packages for Kandhamal riot victims

Bhubaneswar, Jan 05 (UNI) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced a relief package for the riot-affected people of strife -torn Kandhamal district, rocked by a communal clash between the Tribals and Christians.

Mr Patnaik, who chaired a review meeting on the Kandhmal situation here, said Rs 40,000 would be given as assistance for each of the fully damaged houses and Rs 20,000 for partially damaged houses.

Official report claimed so far 480 houses were fully damaged and 320 partially damaged in the communal clash.

Out of Rs 40,000, a sum of Rs 25,000 would be given from the Indira Awas Yojana and the rest would be provided from the Chief Minister's relief fund.

The government had also decided to provide food to the affected people for three months.

In addition all the affected families would be provided with clothes, utensils and blankets, Mr Patnaik said and directed the district administration to provide all the assistance from the Chief Minister's relief fund.

Earlier on December 31, the government had announced a compensation of Rs one lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the kins of each of the three people, killed during the communal clash.

The communal clash between the Christians and the Tribal erupted on December 24 last over the erection of a welcome gate by Christians in Brahamanigaon village of the district on a disputed land.

The authorities had to impose curfew, deploy more than 40 platoon of security personnel and rush senior officers to maintain peace and communal harmony as several places of worships and houses in the district were damaged by the rioters.

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