Bhubaneswar, Oct 19: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken significant action in response to recent Tuberculosis-related deaths in the Kaliapani area of Jajpur district.
The NHRC issued a notice to the Odisha Chief Secretary following the receipt of a complaint from an advocate and human rights activist from Odisha, as well as a separate complaint from rights activist Akhand.
The petitioners highlighted the dire circumstances faced by the residents of Kaliapani in Jajpur, citing poverty, unsanitary living conditions, and a lack of access to nutritional food as contributing factors to the health problems in the area.
Moreover, they also revealed that four individuals, aged between 29 and 48 years, had succumbed to Tuberculosis due to the unavailability of timely and appropriate medical treatment in Jajpur. The petitioner further alleged that the Health Department officials had been neglecting the region, resulting in considerable suffering among the local tribal population.
In light of these grave concerns, the petitioner urgently requested the NHRC's intervention in this matter to address the situation and uphold the human rights of the affected residents.
Upon reviewing the case, the National Human Rights Commission expressed its deep concern regarding the potential violation of human rights experienced by the residents of Kaliapani.
To address this issue, the Commission issued a formal notice to the Chief Secretary of Odisha. The notice requests a comprehensive report on the matter to be submitted within a four-week period.
In addition, the Commission has sought information from the state authorities regarding the steps taken or proposed to address this critical situation. This proactive action by the NHRC demonstrates its commitment to protecting and promoting human rights in the face of such distressing circumstances.
