Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the SC and ST Development Department to delegate powers to district Collectors to withdraw money from the treasury for timely payment of relief amount to victims of atrocities.
The OHRC issued the direction responding to a petition filed by Sangram Keshari Mallick and Baghambar Patnaik of the Ambedkar-Lohia Vichar Manch vis-à-vis delay in relief to victims of atrocities of Goruala Nuapatna in Puri district.
The commission directed the Puri district Collector to provide monetary support to the victims within two months under the amended rules of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Some SC category people had been attacked by upper caste people in May 2017. A case had been filed in the Puri Sadar police station in this regard. After an inquiry, the concerned Magistrate and the Police Joint Action Committee had recommended the district administration to pay Rs 4 lakh to victim Ranjita Sethy and Rs 2 lakh each to seven other victims.
The Government did not take any step in this regard. The Manch then filed a petition before the OHRC.
