Rights of the Vulnerable
by the Super Cycbne that struck the coastal districts of Orissa on 29-30 October
1999, the Commision considered it imperative to take suo moiu cognizance of the
situation that had developed. It accordingly established immediate contact with its
Special Representative, Shri A.B. Tripathi, stationed in Bhubaneshwar, and asked its
Secretary General, Shri N. Gopalaswami and Special Rapporteur, Shri Chaman Lai, to
visit the area, interact with the officials at various levels and report back to the Commission
so as to enable it tc decide how best to be of assistance to the State Government in the
relief and rehabili-ation effort that would be required.
6.5 Based on the t observations and a detailed report submitted by Shri Chaman Lai,
who visited all the i-ffected districts to make an on-the-spot assessment of the devastation
caused by the cyclcne, and the relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation work in progress,
the Commission trade specific recommendations to the State Government in respect of:
(a) a complete enumeration of the casualties in order to ensure that a proper assessment
is made of the ri^ht to compensation and other assistance to the survivors; (b) an
assessment of the ^ood for Work programme for those below the poverty line, in order
to provide them, iirough a special dispensation, wages in terms of grains, along with
special feeding caitres for the old and incapable; (c) a district-wise census to secure
correct informatioi on all widows and senior citizens who had become destitute as a result
of the death ofearning members, and to cover them under the National Old Age Pension
Scheme and Relie by the State Government and under the State Pension Scheme for the
widows; (d) the construction of 40 more shelters in the cyclone prone areas before
30.6.2000, after at assessment of the total number of shelters required; (e) an assessment
of the needs of cltldren who had become orphans in the aftermath of the cyclone and
the opening of orohanages to provide relief to them; (f) the starting of 12 sanctioned
ICDS schemes; {g proper publicity by the State Government so as to enable the affected
people to become aware of their entitlements in the form of relief and compensation;
(h) an action plat to be drawn for each district for the rehabilitation work to be
undertaken; (i) the establishment of appropriate machinery for monitoring long term
rehabilitation, measures, including the monitoring of expenditure relating to relief and
rehabilitation, both at district and state levels, and the relief provided for orphaned
children, destitutr women and children, senior citizens, SC/ST women and children, and
other marginalised sections of society.
6.6 The Commi sion also directed the State Government to take steps for the restoration
of essential services like power, water, telephone communications, road links etc. Taking
note of the allegations that certain District Collectors had professionally failed in
discharging their duties, for which reason they had been transferred, the Commission
recommended d^artmental action against these officers as may be necessary. The State
Government was also requested to order an appropriate inquiry to look into the
complaints of negligence on the part of public servants who failed to regulate the sluice
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