Govt releases funds to compensate Kandhamal victims

Home Minister P. Chidambaram's assurance of 'expeditious' compensation came true this week as the Government began distribution of funds to victims of 2008's anti-Christian violence.

Sources have confirmed that the Union Government disbursed Rs 1.05 crore as assistance among 35 families affected during the communal violence in Orissa's Kandhamal.

The allocation came under the 'Central Scheme of Assistance To Victims Of Terrorist And Communal Violence' that aims at providing assistance to the Next of Kin (NoK) of victims of terrorist and communal violence.

Through the scheme an amount of Rs. 3 lakh is given to the NoK of the deceased victims.

Funds have also been allocated from the Prime Minister's national relief fund. According to a government release, about Rs 6.54 crores have been allocated to meet the relief and rehabilitation measures.

The funds have been allocated to repair damaged houses, churches and public institutions, says Ajay Maken, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.

In a statement, Maken enumerated that Rs 50,000 has been released for fully damaged houses, Rs 20,000 for partly damaged houses, Rs 15,000-40,000 for damaged shops cum residence, Rs 2,000 for bicycle damages, and Rs two lakh for public institutions.

Additionally, Rs two lakh has been released for severely damaged churches and one lakh for partly damaged churches. Also, Rs 50,000 has been released for fully damaged prayer halls, Rs 20,000 for severely damaged prayer halls and Rs 10,000 for partly damaged prayer halls.

The announcement has come just days after Home Minister Chidambaram visited Kandhamal and promised 'fair' compensation to the riot-hit victims.

The Minister apologised for the violence and assured that in one month the government would make all efforts to help the victims return to their villages.

Although government maintains that only a few dozen have been killed, church sources claim at least "70 people were killed" and further "18,000 Christians were injured and 54,000 were rendered homeless."