# Inmates do not have rudimentary civic amenities
# “Overwhelming” number without ration cards
Special Correspondent,
NEW DELHI: Four-and-a-half years after the
carnage of 2002, over 5,000 displaced families
belonging to the minority community continue to
live in camps in “sub-human conditions” because
the Gujarat Government "is not fulfilling its
constitutional responsibility" to create an
atmosphere that would enable them to return home.
This is the key finding of the National
Commission for Minorities (NCM) after a five-day
visit to 17 of the 46 camps that are now the
makeshift homes of the families. While the State
Government stated that the inmates of the camps
were living there voluntarily, the NCM in its
report said: "In view of the overwhelming
evidence to the contrary, the Commission finds
this viewpoint untenable and evasive of a
government’s basic responsibility."
According to NCM member Zoya Hasan, the
abdication of State responsibility in the
post-violence situation is just as bad if not
worse than its turning a Nelson’s eye to the
carnage in 2002. "While the Gujarat Government is
refusing to recognise their displacement, it also
seems that the nation has forgotten what happened
in 2002."
Acting on a complaint from an Ahmedabad-based
non-government organisation about the condition
of 5,307 families displaced in the 2002 riots,
the NCM team visited the camps between October 13
and 17.
During their visits, members found that inmates
lived without the most rudimentary civic
amenities like potable water, sanitation,
streetlights, schools, primary health centres and
approach roads.
Besides, “an overwhelming” number of families did
not have ration cards. Requests for below poverty
line cards have been repeatedly turned down.
As a result, many families were unable to obtain
foodgrains, cereals and kerosene at subsidised
rates. The Commission found this had increased
their hardship, as most displaced families were
reduced to working for daily wages after losing
their means of livelihood.
Though State Government officials escorted the
Commission members to these camps, the
establishment remained unmoved by the living
conditions there.
Most of the camps were located on land bought by
NGOs or donated by wealthy Muslims. Many inmates
were key witnesses in major legal cases.
"They live in constant fear and terrible
deprivation, yet they have not lost their faith
in the State," the report said.