In a significant intervention, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has stepped in to provide urgent relief to families left homeless after a recent eviction drive in north Bengaluru. The commission has issued interim directives mandating the state government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to provide immediate essential aid.
Commission's Directives for Immediate Relief
The order, issued on December 30 by KSHRC president Sham Bhat and member SK Ventigodi, comes after the demolition of approximately 160 to 170 houses on government land at Kogilu Layout in the Yelahanka taluk. This area falls under the Byrathanapura assembly segment. A copy of this interim order was made publicly available this Friday.
Taking serious note of the plight of the displaced families and the chilly Bengaluru weather, where minimum temperatures hover between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, the commission has outlined specific relief measures. The authorities have been instructed to:
- Erect tents on available government land.
- Supply hot food and clean drinking water regularly.
- Set up a mobile health centre for medical aid.
- Arrange temporary shelter with proper toilet facilities.
Government Bodies Directed to Comply
The KSHRC's interim recommendations are not merely advisory. The panel has forwarded these directives for immediate compliance to the state's chief secretary and the chief commissioner of the Greater Bengaluru Authority. This places direct responsibility on the top administration to execute the relief work without delay.
The eviction, which rendered a large community homeless, highlighted the critical need for a humane protocol during such actions. The commission's proactive order emphasizes the state's duty to protect the basic human rights of shelter, food, and healthcare, especially for vulnerable groups during winter.
A Precedent for Humanitarian Action
This intervention by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission sets a crucial precedent. It underscores that eviction drives must be coupled with robust rehabilitation and immediate support systems. The focus now shifts to the state government and the GBA, whose prompt action will determine the well-being of the affected families in Yelahanka's Kogilu Layout.
The public release of the order also adds a layer of transparency and accountability, allowing civil society and the media to monitor the implementation of these essential relief measures.
