Muzaffarnagar riot victims still suffering inhuman living conditions

Uprooted by violent communal riots, thousands of families continue to live without basic human facilities in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. Donations welcomed to make a difference

By Team FI

Three months ago the Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts had faced brutal acts of violence including killings and rape, in what was described as one of the worst communal riots in Uttar Pradesh in recent memory. Thousands of families were uprooted and nearly 20,000 people found temporary shelter in riot relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli respectively.

However, the families found themselves living in inhuman conditions unable to return home for fear of their safety. The winter months have wreaked havoc on the relief camps with deaths reported especially infants and children due to lack of basic facilities.

Despite a UP government committee report that stated at least 34 children below 12 years of age have died in the Muzaffarnagar and Shamli relief camps, the last week of the year saw 150 families forced to leave the Loi relief camp, over 500 km from state capital Lucknow. Local government officials were allegedly present when the people who had managed the camp dismantled the temporary shelters.

Reacting to criticism about the inhuman act, the UP government has currently shifted about 420 people with the remaining 63 victims being moved to vacant buildings to escape from the severe winter.

Several women and human rights group have been working in the area and have put forward appeals for donations to alleviate the living conditions of the riot relief camps. The following organisations are accepting donations.

Immediate Needs
A Joint Citizen Intiative team’s assessment of immediate needs

A. Tarpaulin Sheets:
Tarpaulin sheets/canvas sheets to cover the tents and prevent dew from seeping in. We are planning to distribute them in the 4 camps in Muzaffarnagar where JCI is working (approx 700 tents). We can purchase them on behalf of who ever wishes to donate and send them the receipt for the items.

For example, one tarpaulin sheet/canvas sheet @ INR 418, so for about 700 tents = INR 2,92,600.
So a donor can say they want to get Tarpaulin sheets for X number of tents.
For example, donation towards tarpaulin sheets for,
50 tents = INR 20,900 (twenty thousand approx)
100 tents = INR 41, 800
200 tents = INR 83,600
500 tents = INR 2,09,000 (two lakhs approx)
700 tents – INR 2, 92,600 (three lakhs approx)

B. Quilts:

In case you would rather contribute warm covering, blankets are now no longer sufficient. Over a month ago we had distributed blankets in some camps (but its now freezing at night). We now need thick razais (Quilts). And we are planning to get them immediately. 1 thick quilt is costing INR 600 locally. There are 1500 identified families we would like to give quilts to. (600 x 1500 = 9,00,000 INR)

So, donations can be made towards this also. If someone wants to donate, they can ask us to get quilts for X number of families, on their behalf .
For example, donation towards one quilt per family for,
100 families = INR 60,000
200 families = INR 1,20,000
500 families = INR 3,00,000
1000 families = INR 6,00, 000
1500 families = INR 9,00,000

Donations:
Sadhbhavana Trust
1. CHEQUES (Indian or Foreign) in the name of Sadbhavana Trustmailed to:
MadhaviKuckreja (Ph. 9415104361, 9984616000), PuneetGoyal (8737095053, 9415410805)HameedaKhatoon(ph 9473789465) c/o Sadbhavana Trust 130, Jagdish Chandra Bose Road, QaiserBagh, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,
India, 226 001.
Landline. +91 522 407 7698. Email :sadbhavana.lucknow@gmail.com

Foreign donations to be transferred to this Bank Account
Account Name: Sadbhavana Trust
Account No. 602210100004883
Name of Bank: Bank of India
Address of Bank: 7, Panchsheel Shopping Centre, New Delhi-110016
IFSC Code: BKID0006022
SWIFT CODE: BKIDINBBNPL
Branch Code: 6022
FCRA Registration No. 231650698

Saheli

Cheques need to be made in the name of ‘Saheli Women’s Resource Centre’ and sent with a covering letter stating they are meant for “Muzaffarnagar” along with your name, address and phone number/email contact. You may also write “Muzaffarnagar” at the back of the cheque. Cash donations, you can give to any Saheli you know or meet. Cheques may be sent to the following address:

Saheli Women’s Resource Centre
Above Unit 105-108
Defence Colony Flyover Market
New Delhi 100 024
Email:
Phones: Sadhna: 9899797963, or Vani: 9891128911

ASTITVA SAMAJIK SANSTHAN

APPEAL FOR DONATION AND SUPPORT
In August-September 2013 large scale communal clashes took place that changed the lives of people living in Muzaffarnagar district, Western Uttar Pradesh, where people once lived in communal harmony. This led to burning of homes, mob brawls, rapes, killings, murders and other mass violence. This has made thousands of people homeless and for the past three months they have been living in Relief Camps in various villages in Shamli, Muzaffarnagar etc.

Since elections are around the corner, the government and politicians want to show that everything has settled down and are claiming that there are no relief camps. This also means that they have stopped providing aid to these relief camps. The survivors in the camps have pleaded the government to continue to maintain the rehabilitation camp as they are not ready to go back. They are afraid for their security in their own villages, as they have experienced the baseness of people and the state during the riots. Some more incidents of violence have also been reported in the area since September. There is a real need to continue to run these relief camps.

People living in the riot relief camps are suffering tremendously in the harsh winter weather. Many have fallen prey to the cold as a large number of very vulnerable sections of the community, including more than 280 children, 71 pregnant women and the old, live in the camp. The survivors living in the relief camps at Loi village are facing a lot of difficulties as water has entered the camp tents.

These camps need financial support to be able to assist those survivors of violence who need to continue living in the camps and rehabilitate them when they are able to go back to their respective villages.

On the 21st of December, Rehana and Nirmala from Astitva Samajik Sanstha based in Saharanpur and who have been working with Muzaffarnagar riot-affected people since the time violence began there came to Mumbai and met with various organisations. They gave the activists and concerned people an update of the situation in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas.

Some of the immediate needs they expressed are as follows:
1. Amenities to protect them from the harsh weather conditions like adequate healthy food, clean drinking water which will cost Rs 1500/- per week for each family.
2. They also need coal to keep them warm that costs Rs 700/- per week per family.
3. Over 500 women in the camps are skilled in making handicrafts so they want to start small enterprises in order to become self reliant.
4. Many people living in the relief camps have lost most of their important documents to prove their identity, educational qualification etc. To help them regain their normal lives a lot of expenditure will have to be made.
5. Over a thousand girls have had to discontinue their education. It is necessary to make special efforts to get the girls back into schools.

For these purposes we require help from you in terms of donation. It is our genuine request to you to please help us in any way possible.

Address
City/village: Sulatanpur, Chilkana
Moh-Kanjimal,Sultanpur, Po-chilkana, Distt-Saharanpur
Uttar Pradesh
F.C.R.A. Number : 136690066
Contact person: Rehana Adib
Phone: 09456293246
E-mail: astitwaup@gmail.com

Featured photo courtesy: indiaresists.com