The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended to the Odisha Chief Secretary to initiate necessary steps for betterment of life and the basic amenities in the underdeveloped areas in Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi Region.

The NHRC has passed the order recently acting on the petition filed by human rights lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy. The petitioner highlighted issues concerning migrant workers from State of Odisha and in particular from Districts-Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Naupada, Nabarangpur, Baragarh, Jharsuguda and Gajapati to neighbouring states.

Drawing attention of the apex human rights panel, the petition highlighting human misery contended that a poor migrant worker Samulu Pangi carried the body of his wife Ide Guru (30) to reach his native place at Sorada village in Pottangi block to perform her last rites. The sequence of events corroborates violation of human rights.

Pangi had admitted his ailing wife at a hospital in Sangivalasa in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. However, the doctors there said she was not responding to treatment and advised him to take her back home, around one hundred kms away. Even though he hired an auto-rickshaw, the driver of the vehicle after some kilometers refused to move further. Finding no other way, Pangi carried his wife’s body on shoulder. Due to lack of medical facilities at his native place, negligent behavior at the hospital in Andhra Pradesh and language barrier for the Police, Pangi, (the deceased’s husband) suffered immensely, the petition contended.

The petition alleged that the poor and migrant labourers are facing rampant exploitation wherein their right to life and livelihood are being blatantly violated by the contractors and middlemen owing to negligence and inaction on part of State Authorities.

“In view of the totality of facts and circumstances this Commission deems fit to recommend the Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha to take necessary steps for betterment of basic health facilities and amenities in these underdeveloped areas. It is further recommended that the administration shall ensure that the benefits of the Central and State Government schemes and health should reach the beneficiaries or intended persons at ground level. The simplified evaluation or checking mechanism shall be evolved so as to ensure proper vigil and the basic minimum health facilities at village, Tehsil, Sub-Division, District and Commissionerate level. The State shall endeavor for equitable distribution of resources in each and every part of the State so that the traditionally deprived and backward areas are not left unattended, rather they should be the thrust areas with special initiative for uplifting these areas”, NHRC stated in the order.