Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Chief Secretary to address the woes of six Dalit families whose houses had been razed to ground by culprits at Shalevata gram panchayat under Loisingha police limits of Bolangir August 11.
The commission, while hearing an application filed by rights activist Himanshu Sekhar Nayak, asked the Chief Secretary to direct district authorities to take appropriate steps within eight weeks and intimate the commission. The panel has also sought stringent action against the culprits involved in the demolition of the houses of the Dalit families.
The sarpanch, Hemakanti Munda, misused the powers vested with her by the state government due to Covid-19 pandemic as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The accused demolished the houses of the Dalits constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana-Gramin scheme.
The landless families constructed the houses on vacant government plots after getting permission from Tehsildar and revenue inspector. However, the Sarpanch’s husband along with eight others bulldozed the houses of the six tribal families with a JCB machine August 11. Later, police arrested the lady Sarpanch and her husband after registering a case in this regard. Eight other associates of the Sarpanch are still at large.
Nayak urged the commission to direct the authorities to pay compensation of Rs 8 lakh to each family, 10 decimals land to the landless families free of cost and exemplary action against the culprits.