Movement of NGOs restricted in Orissa district
The movement of non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers has been restricted in one of the flood-hit districts of Orissa after allegations that the NGOs were distributing sub-standard relief packages to the victims to get 'cheap publicity'.
From correspondents in Orissa, India, 18 Jul 2007 - (www.indiaenews.com)
The movement of non-governmental organisation (NGO) workers has been restricted in one of the flood-hit districts of Orissa after allegations that the NGOs were distributing sub-standard relief packages to the victims to get 'cheap publicity'.
The district administration at Balasore, some 200 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar restricted the movement of NGO activists in the Balasore district, district collector Alekh Chandra Padhiary told IANS here Wednesday.
'I have received allegations against some NGOs that they are providing sub standard food materials to the flood victims. They are allegedly doing this to get cheap publicity and media exposure,' he said.
The rains - caused by a depression over the Bay of Bengal - led to flash floods in 11 of the state's 30 districts killing about 27 people early this month. It had affected about 2 million people in nearly 3,000 villages. Balasore, a coastal district was the worst hit where about 20 people died and more than 1.5 million people were affected.
'We cannot allow any NGO to work on their own in the flood affected areas. They need to take permission of the district administration to do any relief work in the district' Padhiary said.
'If we give them permission then they may stock their relief materials with us and our relief officials will help them in the distribution,' he said.
The NGOs operating in the district said the decision might affect the relief work.
Padhiary, however claimed that the directive banning NGOs from distributing relief directly to the flood victims would not have any adverse effect on relief operations.
Read more at: http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20070718/61373.htm
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