Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Internally Displaced Persons
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(ii)
A number of houses constructed by outside agencies are lying un-occupied because
there are no takers. The beneficiaries are not willing to accept relocation. The result is
a colossal waste of scarce funds.
(iii) There are a number of complaints regarding payment of housing assistance and
classification of damaged houses since as many as 15,000 persons in Kutch area alone
have been denied any assistance though their houses either fell in G-5 category or had
to be demolished.
(iv) There are instances where the instructions given by the Lokpal had not been complied
with. Some of the cases have been quoted by the Special Rapporteur.
(v)
The main issue in all these and similar cases is the tendency on the part of the officers
to be too technical and treat such matters in a routine unsympathetic manner.
(vi) Draft town planning schemes have been finalized for 4 towns, namely, Bhuj, Anjar,
Bhachau and Rapar. A Board of Appeal with District Judge as Chairman has been
constituted to hear and dispose of objections. This process is likely to take some
considerable time.
(vii) The victims of earthquake, who were tenants are facing lot of difficulties since they
have either lost their documents, either due to passage of time or in the quake. They
have no proof to establish their tenancy rights. There are 1000 such families who are
awaiting decision of the Government for allotment of land.
(viii) The relocated sites are neither attached to the Municipalities or village panchayats.
The area development authorities have no democratic dispensation or responsibilities.
One common complaint is that the money raised by the sale of property in the towns
was not being used for development.
(ix) It is feared that the new Town Planning Schemes do not take care of the Gujarat High
Court order that no construction should be permitted to interfere with the water bodies.
(x)
Under the new Scheme, there is no provision for shops in residential areas selling daily
requirements. These are proposed to be relocated at designated areas only.
(xi) While physical rehabilitation of the victims has made reasonable progress, economic
improvement has not happened.
(xii) Under the scheme of assistance to Professionals, 34 advocates in Kutch have been left
out while others have received the subsidy.
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