Curtain Raiser : National Human Rights Commission 28th Foundation Day 12th October, 2021 at 1100 hrs Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Curtain Raiser :

National Human Rights Commission

28th Foundation Day

12th October, 2021 at 1100 hrs

Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

The National Human Rights Commission, India is celebrating its 28th Foundation Day at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on 12th October, 2021.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will be the Chief Guest (through video conferencing) in the august presence of Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Union Minister for Home Affairs & Co-operation.

The Commission was set up under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 on this day i.e. 12th October, 1993 for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Commission has been celebrating Foundation Day for the last 28 years and the event has been graced by many eminent guests including the Hon’ble President, Prime Minister and other dignitaries. The celebrations are a reminder to the Commission’s commitment towards the cause of protection and promotion of the human rights.

The Commission takes cognizance of any form of human rights violations, conducts enquiries and having satisfied of such violation of human rights recommends to the public authorities for payment of compensation to the victims, other remedial and legal measures against the erring public servants.

The Commission also creates requisite awareness about promotion and protection of human rights through training modules/internship, research projects, seminars/webinars and other various publications.

The NHRC, India holds ‘A’ status accreditation with the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, GANHRI since 1999, besides, being a founder Member of Asia Pacific Forum since 1996.

NHRC Chairperson, Members, and Officials have been participating in various sessions of Asia Pacific Forum, GANHRI and UN Human Rights Council and highlighting the role, being played by the Commission in the face of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, twenty advisories, such as Right to Food, Right to Health & Mental Health, Rights of the Informal Workers, Advisory on upholding the Dignity of the Dead have been issued in this context for the protection of human rights of different vulnerable and marginalized sections of the society.

During the Pandemic, 24*7 NHRC Control Room was operational for helping the people in distress in arranging necessary oxygen cylinders, medicines and life saving drugs.,

Despite the challenges being posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission has been continuously working through on-line and digital mode enabling the citizens to lodge complaints seamlessly from any part of the country. The enquiries into the complaints and remedial measures to the aggrieved citizens continued during this period. Apart from this, the Commission held several webinars with the various stakeholders including Govt. officials sensitizing them about the issues of vulnerable sections that cropped up during the Covid pandemic. The Commission also organized many training /internship programs through on-line mode, carried out other research projects and participated in both national and international level seminars and webinars. While strictly enforcing the Covid protocol and observing precautions many spot visits and inspections were also carried out by the NHRC team into important matters of urgent nature.

Over the years, the Commission has taken several new initiatives to expand its outreach. The Commission is now fully working in E-office format and linked its HRCNet Portal with all the State authorities and SHRCs. The complainants can file complaints directly through on-line mode in a fast and efficient manner and can track the real time status of their complaint on the Commission’s portal. The on-line complaint filing system is also linked with over three lakh Common Service Centres spread across the country.

The Commission has also proactively engaged with the NGOs, civil society representatives and Human Rights Defenders. The Thematic Core Groups involving various experts have helped the Commission to formulate mechanism to evaluate the schemes initiated by the Govt. and make recommendations thereof. The Special Monitors and Special Rapporteurs who are the eyes and ears of the Commission are adding value to the mandate of the Commission.

As a run up to the Foundation Day celebration, the Commission this year has also held Sports meet, painting, poetry and singing competitions for its staff and also felicitated the meritorious children of the staff members.

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