NHRC seeks report on ration denial to HIV positive orphans

The National Human Rights Commission has taken a strong exception over the denial of ration to two HIV positive orphan siblings in a remote village here, asking the authorities to furnish a compliance report on the action taken. District officials on Wednesday said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) notice was issued last weekend.

Earlier, the Odisha Human Rights Commission had issued a similar direction for compliance of the action taken report.

Two orphaned siblings at Olaver village were denied ration under the government food distribution scheme by a retailer due to fear of contracting the disease which triggered a widespread condemnation across the state.

Kendrapara Collector Debendra Prasad Das said an administrative inquiry has already been conducted into the incident and the accused Public Distribution System (PDS) stockist has been removed. Sub-divisional police officer Purna Chandra Pradhan said the local police is inquiring the incident and the compliance report would be submitted soon.

The siblings had lost their parents to the killer disease in 2005 and their plight had also drawn Presidential intervention after the duo wrote to the then President late APJ Abdul Kalam and narrated their ordeal.