NHRC grants Rs 5.5 cr compensation to Ratangarh stampede

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Justice K G Balakrishnan said here today that it has granted a compensation of Rs 5.50 crore to families of victims of the Ratangarh temple stampede in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district.
"NHRC has granted compensation of Rs 5.50 crore (each Rs 5 lakh) to kin of 110 victims of Ratangarh Temple stampede due to the inaction of the government officials," he said during the last of three-day open hearing and camp on cases related to atrocities on Schedule Castes organised by the NHRC.
The objective of the camp was to dispose of pending cases, sensitising officials about on human rights issues, compliance of NHRC recommendations by them and meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people.

Around 115 people were killed and over 100 were injured in a stampede at Ratangarh temple in Datia last year in August.
Centre will provide Rs 3 lakh and the state Government will provide Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the victims,the chairman added.
The Commission also directed senior officers of the state government to provide relief to the remaining families of the victims.

The NHRC, on the occasion has also taken a decision to conduct health survey for workers in the Panna Mines, he said.
The Commission also granted a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to four persons who were affected by the disease silicosis.

On the last day, the Commission also held a meeting with local NGOs on human rights issues and met the Chief Secretary, DGP, Collectors, SPs and other senior civil, police and jail officers on the issues raised by the NGOs.
In the camp sitting, 45 cases pending in the Commission were taken up and out of which 14 were finally disposed of, a NHRC release said.