Delhi Violence Victims Particularly Vulnerable to COVID-19, Memorandum Seeks Urgent Intervention of State

A comprehensive list of demands, which focused on the measures to be adopted by the State in the aftermath of the ‘targeted violence’ that shook North East Delhi in the last week of February 2020, was submitted to the Delhi Government recently. The list of demands has been prepared by the volunteers and concerned citizens who were involved in the relief, documentation and rehabilitation efforts post the communal violence that left over 500 people injured and at least 50 dead, in addition to huge loss and destruction of businesses, property and places of worship.

The memorandum submitted to the Delhi Government stated after three weeks of independent relief work and documentation of the violence-affected areas, it was found that “the absence of the state at this time has resulted in life-threatening deprivation amongst its citizens.”

An inner lane in Mustafabad, Delhi (27.02.20). Image Credit: Usman Jawed

It also highlights the fact that with the outbreak of COVID-19 in India, “there has been a restriction of civil society efforts”, and therefore, “the role of the state has become all the more urgent—especially as living closely in camps and bereft of their homes make victims of this violence all the more vulnerable to the disease.” 

As such, the volunteers and concerned citizens have urged the state to “re-assess its existing measures in order to meet the needs of those made vulnerable by this violence, with a long-term view to rebuild broken lives.”

Raising concerns about the Delhi Police’s handling of the situation, the memorandum has also an independent investigation into the role of the Delhi Police in the violence, and stressed on the urgent need to bring the guilty to justice.

The details of the demands that require the immediate action of the government as stated in the memorandum are given below:

• Relief: regarding families in relief camps, impact on the female workforce, assistance to families whose homes have been looted and burnt, and extension of relief period by the state

• Compensation: wherein loss is uncovered by the scheme, compensation amounts are found wanting and initial payments have not been made as well as setting up of a redressal mechanism.

• Legal Assistance: highlighting the need for proper documentation of complaints, as well as leg-aid desk/teams/centres in the area and a court monitored SIT

• Medical and Psycho-Social Trauma: immediate concerns such as treatment of injuries to long term public health effects (including trauma and psychosocial damage)

• COVID-19: Recognition of violence affected families and individuals as a special vulnerable groups. Recommendations on how to protect those affected by the violence from the COVID-19 pandemic

•  Livelihood Intervention: Rehabilitation of livelihoods of self-employed and wage-workers, the majority of those affected by the riots 

• Skilling and Education: regarding the targeting of schools, and the need for skill-based programmes and the re-opening of Anganwadis.

•  Reconciliation, Reparation and Communal Harmony: steps towards rebuilding trust and inter-community confidence.

• Rehabilitation: Towards a planned, time-bound, and accountable process of rehabilitation 

The copy of the memorandum can be accessed here.