The National Human Rights Commission has asked deputy commissioner Giridih to submit a report in eight weeks on the demolition of an under-construction house of a disabled elderly woman allotted under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin.

The NHRC has in a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner Giridih (Naman Priyesh Lakra) on March 18 informed about the complaint by Arun Kumar Singh, general secretary of Rashtriya Viklang Manch (an outfit espousing cause of disabled) which was placed before the commission on March 17.

“The complaint be transmitted to the concerned authority for action as deemed appropriate. The authority concerned is directed to take appropriate action within eight weeks associating the complainant/victim and to inform him/her of the action taken in the matter,” the commission directs.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Arun Kumar Singh, himself an orthopedically challenged and a resident of Jamshedpur, termed the incident as a brazen act of insensitivity on the part of the forest authorities of Giridih.

“I came to know about it from the local vernaculars wherein an elderly visually challenged homeless woman who was allotted a house in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (rural housing scheme previously known as Indira Awas Yojna a social welfare programme of the central government to provide houses for rural poor). The house was almost complete when the forest authorities demolished it on March 4 and rendered the disabled woman virtually homeless again. It shows the brazen insensitivity on the part of the forest authorities who are silent on encroachment of forest lands by influential,” alleged Arun Kumar Singh.

JCB machines being used to demolish the house of an elderly disabled woman at Giridih earlier this month. Telegraph photo.

He further alleged that based on reports, the disabled woman who used to eke out a living by begging at the Parasnath Hills (a famous religious tourism place of the Jains) was allotted a house by the district administration at Pirtand block under the Madhuban police station area.

Giridih DC Lakra admitted that he received the report.

“It is certainly an embarrassing development. We are probing if any notice was given to the woman before undertaking demolition and will take appropriate steps for the rehabilitation of the disabled woman,” said Lakra.

Divisional forest officer Giridih, Pravesh Agarwal said the action was taken by range officer S.K. Ravi.

“The range officer took the decision as the house was being constructed in a forest area and he did as per the Forest Act.

“However, I can sympathise with the poor disabled woman as the house was allotted by the block and circle officials without checking if the plot falls in forest or non-forest area but she had to face the problem,” said Agarwal.