Rupees Three Hundred Thousand is the Cost of those died in Orissa Communal Violence

Shri. Shivraj Patil, the Home Minister of the Union Government of India, visited the violence erupted Khandamal in Orissa after 11 days of violence and has reviewed the situation over there. After his visit, he has announced a compensation of Rupees three hundred thousand as ex-gratia to each family of those killed in communal violence in Khandamal, Orissa. He also had to say that the present situation in Khandamal is somewhere between ‘normalcy and volatile’.

Thanks to the gesture of the Central Government in announcing an ex-gratia to those families who are in deep distress, sorrow, fear and trauma. But, as this was announced, several questions rippled around my thoughts. Can life be priced in terms of money? Will a price bring back the lost one in the family? If it is all with money, there are no ends to the killings? How easy it is to worth human life in terms of money? To put the debate in perspective the primary question that surrounds and summarises the situation in Orissa at the moment will be, in such a situation of turmoil and fear, what does it mean to achieve justice for the Dalit Christians in Khandamal, Orissa, who have been the worst victims due to the communal violence?

I know, that I am entering into a wider debate, which has several layers of viciousness and which has several ramifications and consequences. However it is worth to attempt to draw the parameters for what does it mean to achieve justice to Dalits Christians in Khandamal? I think, certainly announcing a grant of some rupees may not be the all in all for Dalit Christians at a moment like this. Nor, a mere visit to the streets of Khandamal is the solution at a time like this (like our Home Minister visiting the deserted streets of Khandamal, where people fled to forests to save their lives). Nor deploying some paramilitary forces will be what the victims would require (for the policemen were mere spectators to the violence done to Dalit Christians in Khandamal). Nor a mere Press statement by the government authorities is the response now in this situation (for the Chief Minister of Orissa talks to the Press telling that situation in Khandamal is coming to normalcy, whereas violence has simmered in Jeypore, Koraput areas and reports of fresh violence on Christians come in).

Therefore, in a situation, which is so volatile like this in Orissa, I envision that to achieve justice to Dalit Christians means

· To promote peace and harmony among communities of all religions in Orissa.
· To condemn fundamentalism and fanaticism in every religion, that inflicts violence and inflates the religious sentiments leading to violence.
· To punish the perpetrators of violence under law, who cause it in the name of religion & caste and in specific, in the name of religious ethos.
· To create a space and place for the Dalit Christians to come back home safely and to live in all safety and freedom, by overcoming the fear, trauma and grief.
· To initiate peace committees through inter-faith interventions in all local communities.
· To exert pressure on the state and central governments in ensuring justice through their government machinery, and make the state also accountable for failing to maintain law and order situation in the state.
· To organise a dialogue/interface between the Tribals and Dalits in Khandamal for a peaceful negotiation between the two communities.
· To enjoy the freedom of religion as granted by the Constitution of India, and to exercise faith in all freedom and liberty.
· To affirm in the richness of the people’s cultural identities, with out any dictation from external agencies.
· To assert the human rights of all people, and specifically the rights of Dalits.
· To strive for a community of transformation, a community of friendship, a community of love and a community of peace and justice.

These are just some pointers towards what it means to achieve justice in the context of turmoil in Orissa. Money cannot pay the price, nor cannot equate life, but affirming in the human dignity, human identity and human freedom can lead to he path of justice and tranquillity. Towards that end, may we all strive for and engage in. Jai hind.