Though there was no threat to their lives now, victims of riots that took place in Kandhamal today told envoys of five European countries they were yet to be re-settled even a year after the violence.
At least 10 selected victims of the riots narrated this to the ambassadors of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland, who met them at the Bishop's House here.
Aoulsen Ole Lonsmann, Ambassador of Denmark said "we had a private discussion with the victims. We cannot share it with the public."
Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archbishop Raphael Cheenath said "they are concerned over what happened in Kandhamal last year. They listened to victims, but did not promise anything."
The archbishop said though was no violence for some time the people still lived underneath trees and in private relief centres due to lack of houses.
"We think about 50,000 people fled Kandhamal after the riots. Though 50% of them are already back, they are facing problem of housing," he said and asked the state government to take more interest in building houses for the riot victims.
Replying to a question, Cheenath said he did not feel normalcy had returned in Kandhamal. "I will call it normal when people have houses safe to live in Kandhamal."
A resident of Kritangia village in Baliguda police station area, Joseph Nayak, told the ambassadors, "though there is no violence in Kandhamal now, fear of last year's violence is still fresh in our minds. People need to be resettled quickly."
Kameswar Digal of Gunjibadi village, one of those whose legs was chopped off during the riots, told the envoys that he was not afraid to return to his village. "But I am worried that the riot victims are not getting adequate support for building houses."
Runima Digal, a woman from the same village, who witnessed her husband Iswar Digal being killed in front of her, also narrated a similar story.
"I have four children. Whatever compensation I received from the government was inadequate to build a house and educate my children," she said.
