PM visit helps relief agencies to reach Assam victims

July 31, 2012. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Northeastern Indian state of Assam has helped relief groups to reach out to victims of ethnic violence in the state. Singh, who visited the state’s strife-torn areas on Saturday, termed the violence as unfortunate and a blot on the face of India.

Clashes between indigenous Bobo tribesmen and Muslim settlers from neighboring West Bengal and Bangladesh have killed some 60 people and rendered more than 400,000 homeless who are now sheltered in 235 relief camps.

Singh announced 3 billion rupees (US$54 million) for relief and rehabilitation of the displaced. He also sanctioned 200,000 rupees (US$3,635) each to the kin of those killed and 50,000 rupees to the wounded.

The premier’s visit has eased relief operations, said Father Thomas D’Silva, spokesperson of Bongaigaon diocese that covers the violence-hit region.

The priest said the relief camps are spread over Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri of the Bodo Territorial Administered Districts. The administration has entrusted the task of reaching medical aid to camps in Dhubri district to the Missionaries of Charity.

“We have to attend to so many people and I am looking out for more volunteers,” their local superior Sister Jacoba told ucanews.com on Monday. She said they began the relief work along with some Augustinian nuns on Saturday, soon after the premier’s visit.

Sr. Jacoba said they still face problem from bureaucracy and night curfew. “We have to wait for the district collector’s permission each day. That delays in reaching out the people. We are able to reach the camps only by 11 am and have to return by 6 pm because of the curfew,” she explained.

Bishop Thomas Pulloppillil of Bongaigaon along with the local unit of Peace and Relief Coordination Committee on Saturday visited relief camps in Chirang district to assess the situation, Father D’Silva said.