Voter IDs distributed among Kandhamal victims

Orissa state authorities have promised voter IDs for all displaced Christians who wish to cast their votes on April 16. In addition, the authorities have also promised transportation to ferry Christians at relief camps to their polling stations.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Diocese Archbishop Raphael Cheenath had last week appealed to the Election Commission to adjourn the polls citing victims difficulty to cast their votes in the wake of threats and "hate speeches" made by Hindu hardliners.

"The situation in Kandhamal, greatly disturbed by the continuing communal holocaust since the last week of August 2008, is still very tense and abnormal. It is completely unsuitable to the possibility of a peaceful electoral process, let alone free and fair polls on the scheduled dates," Cheenath expressed in a letter to the Election Commission.

In response, Kandhamal collector Krishan Kumar said the district administration is doing all its best to help riot victims cast their votes. "With the help of the Election Commission, the district administration today opened a toll free number, 1800345678, in which the victims can register their complaints regarding loss of photo identity cards in the riots," he said.

The toll-free number will help displaced victims get duplicate cards to exercise their rights. The same applies to those who have fled the district. "They would get a registration number which they need to tell the polling officials after reaching the block headquarters," the officer explained.

On the security part, Kishan pointed that victims would be escorted to the polling stations and also would be dropped at their place.

Till date more than 2,200 duplicate voter ID cards have been issued. The process is on and will continue till April 12.

Of the 50,000 who fled the state since August 2008, there were 25,000 people in relief camps. The number presently is as low as 3,000 in Nugaon, Tikabali, G Udaygiri and Raikia. Christian organizations have demanded the authorities to inform on the whereabouts of remaining people who have not returned to their villages.