Forum to raise Ockhi devastation issue in UN

The group of NGOs, working in this regard, would raise its complaint first before the United Nations at its Human Rights Council in Geneva starting February 26 and insist that their complaint be taken up for discussion in the impending session itself. 

The group would move a petition before the National Human Rights Commission seeking action against the failed machineries of the Centre and the state besides approaching the World Bank on the disaster mitigation and risk reduction programmes funded by the Bank. 

Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People’s Watch, told DT Next that their approach in the international fora would be to fix criminal responsibility on the state machinery, coastal security group, coast guard, navy and the union government due to which about 145 fishermen are feared dead. “No loss of life would have been reported in the Cyclone had necessary measures been taken by the state machinery,” he said. 

The group had an inhouse consultation in the city with major political parties in the state in Chennai and the meet was attended by CPI leader R Nallakannu, representatives of the DMK, Congress, VCK and others.