Chidambaram calls for early rehabilitation of Assam riot victims

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has called for early rehabilitation of Assam riot victims.

Assuring assistance to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Chidambaram said the immediate task is to rehabilitate the victims.

"The government of India has assured the chief minister a full support, in ensuring that displaced persons get immediate release and are rehabilitated back to their home villages in short period of time as possible," said Chidambaram.

Chidambaram, who reviewed the law and order situation in violence-hit areas, also said that generous amount of compensation has been announced for the rebuilding of homes of the victims.

"Prime Minister visited Assam a couple of days ago. The government of Assam had earlier announced a compensation package, the Prime Minister has announced the central government's compensation package, together the package is quite generous and will help these people rebuild their homes, wherever their homes have been destroyed and rehabilitate themselves," said Chidambaram.

He said that both the governments are putting their best possible efforts to send the victims back to their villages and to restore peace and security in the state.

" I think the problems have been contained and the lessons that have been learned will be applied for the future. The immediate task is to relief to those in the camps, rehabilitation in as short a period of time as possible and providing security to all of them. For all these, plans are being drawn up and I am confident that government of Assam will be able to implement this plan successfully. The government of India of course stands fully behind the government of Assam and be with them in every possible way," said Chidambaram.

The situation in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts has now improved, as no unpleasant incident was reported since Thursday. The concerned district administrations have also relaxed the day curfew now.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had earlier on Saturday announced Rs300 crore as special assistance for development of the violence-hit areas of Assam.

Dr Singh, who visited relief camps in Kokrajhar, also announced Rs2 lakh each to kin of those killed in riots.

The Union Home Ministry has so far made available 11,600 paramilitary personnel for the state to bring back normalcy in the riot-affected areas.