NHRC Open Hearing and Camp Sitting at Arunachal Pradesh

T he National Human Rights Commission, NHRC organized a day long 'Open Hearing and Camp Sitting' at Itanagar for the human rights cases related to Arunachal Pradesh on the 25th May, 2018. Inaugurating it, Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC said that the 'Open Hearings and Camp Sittings' are mechanisms to monitor and review significant issues of human rights, create public awareness and provide a voice to the marginalized sections besides action against the perpetrators. He emphasized the need for proper implementation of flagship programmes and focus on human trafficking, gender sensitization and human rights education for all as vital ingredients for human rights protection.
Mr. Ambuj Sharma, Secretary General, NHRC said that development activities should not ignore human rights. He also spoke about the initiatives taken by the Commission for encouraging the States to showcase good practices of governance, which insured protection of human rights.
The Commission considered 57 matters in three bench sittings presided over by NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, Members, Mr. Justice P.C. Ghose and Mr. Justice D. Murugesan. It recommended monetary relief of
Rs. 14.40 lakh in two cases of prima-facie violation of human rights and in one case of death in police custody, the State Government assured that it would comply with the recommendations of the Commission made earlier for the payment of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of deceased. In three cases, notices were issued to the State government to show-cause why monetary relief of Rs. 4.5 lakh may not be recommended to be paid. Four cases were closed upon receipt of the reports and in other cases, either further time was allowed for submission of reports or the reports submitted were taken on record for further consideration/examination by the Commission.
The Commission expressed concern over the delay in submission of various reports in general and, in particular, in matters pertaining to deaths in custody. The matters considered included issues such as atrocities on SC/ST by Chakma and Hajong people, Health Care, dilapidated conditions of roads, non-implementation of the Right to Education Act, lack of basic amenities for villagers at Indo-China border, increase in suicide cases and lack of mental health care centres, scarcity of drinking water in Debing village in East Siang district, conditions in jails, including overcrowding, health care and denial of facilities and implementation of Central Government flagship programmes.
The hearing of the cases was followed by an interaction with the NGOs and Human Rights defenders, who raised many important issues including lack of basic infrastructural facilities in remote districts, water crises in the Damang district, improper implementation of the PDS scheme, lack of Internet facility, and non functioning of Common Service Centres, the need for up-gradation of the FSL laboratories, increase in budget for proper health care and medicines for the population and the absence of specialists in various disciplines for proper health care. The issues of Rights of indigenous people, non supply of nutritious food at village level through Anganwadi Centres and the lack of toilets in districts and villages were raised. An important issue also raised was heavy bombing by Indian Air Force in Kamle district adversely affecting public life, environment and education of children.