An Initiative for “Ensuring Safe and Peaceful Resettlement of Displaced Victims of Communal Violence in Kokrajhar- A project for Rehabilitation of Displaced Population ”

Some facts dead and about 4 lakh people displaced Displaced people lived in 203 relief camps

NERSWN’s work NERSWN - The Northeast Research and Social Work Networking (NERSWN) Kokrajhar (BTC) Assam Reached to 29 relief camps of Kokrajhar and Dhubri NERSWN was involved in relief work after the riot

Current situation People are returning to their village Still more than 22,000 people are living in 32 relief camps in Kokrajhar Among the returnee to their native villages most of them have not got the compensation grant due to the policy decision of the government to rehabilitate only those families having proper land documents

Current problems The resettled villages are facing crisis of drinking water due to the destruction of bore well/hand pumps during the clash. Schools in the riot affected villages are yet to resume depriving thousands of children from basic education The repatriated people are facing huge livelihood crisis that threatens to create further crisis of forced migration, furthering violence and other forms of tragedy The basic services such as primary healthcare, ICDS, PDS are not functioning in the affected villages Village youths hitherto involved with constructive work now lives in extreme traumatic situation with everyday guarding the village due to fear of possible attack making them vulnerable of being indoctrinated and inducted by the anti- social elements which will further the cycle of violence.

Objectives of NERSWN To ensure access safe drinking water for ten adopted villages by installing hand pumps/bore wells To ensure basic education for all village children by lobbying for implementation of Right to Education Act To advocate for functioning of basic service in the affected villages such as ICDS, PDS, Health Sub- Centers and so on To promote Youth Collectives that will help in village re-construction, reconciliation and self- development of youths

Reach-out Plan Adopt at least 20 villages in the district Already started working in 4 villages –Installing drinking water facilities –strengthening community system of volunteerism to rebuild their houses –facilitating functioning of schools in the villages –lobbying for health care services in the village –motivating for small kitchen garden of vegetables