NHRC Camp Sitting in Chhattisgarh
The National Human Rights Commission, led by Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, held a two-day Camp Sitting at Raipur, Chhattisgarh from 11th-12th April, 2013. 27 cases of human rights violations were taken up for hearing in the Full Commission and Division Bench sittings. Six were closed after satisfactory replies from the State Government while in the remaining, further directions were given. About ` 20 lakh were recommended as monetary relief.
The Camp Sitting was attended by NHRC Members, Justice Shri B.C. Patel, Shri Satyabrata Pal and Shri S.C. Sinha, D.G. (Investigation), Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, Joint Secretary, Shri A.K. Shrivastava, Special Rapporteurs, Smt. S. Jalaja and Prof. S. Narayan, Joint Registrar, Shri A.K. Parashar and other senior officers.
Some of the important cases included, 7000 Hysterectomies by unscrupulous doctors in the State, death of 17 tribals in police action in Dantewada, gang rape of 11 minor tribal girls in a Govt. tribal hostel in Kanker, malnutrition of children and pregnant women, fake encounter cases, Soni Sori's treatment in custody.
Concluding the camp sitting, the Commission had an useful interaction with non-governmental organiza-tions. The issues raised included, harassment of human rights defenders, non-registration or delay in registration of FIR's, lack of care of mentally challenged people, non-adherence to the guidelines of the NHRC in the matters of custodial violence and extra judicial killings, delay in issue of caste certificates to tribals etc.
These issues were taken up at a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Additional C.S., DGP, Principal Secretaries of various departments, etc. Some other important issues were: strategy of the State Government to combat Naxalism in the State; atrocities reportedly committed on tribals in districts of Bastar and Dantewada by Police, security forces and Salwa Judum; relief and rehabilitation to victims of such violence; public distribution system; human rights education at State level; prison reforms including over-crowding in jails; indignity to women - practice of witchcraft; health issues like Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PCPNDT) Act; Silicosis; Leprosy; and timely submission of legible copies of the reports to the Commission on deaths in encounter and police & judicial custody; delay in submission of compliance reports.
Prior to the Camp Sitting, a seven member NHRC delegation visited Dantewada on 9th and 10th April, 2013. The delegation comprised Justice Shri B.C. Patel and Shri Satyabrata Pal, Members, Smt. S. Jalaja, Spl. Rapporteur, Shri A.K. Parashar, Joint Registrar, Shri Pupul Dutta Prasad, SSP and Shri K.A. Hafeez, Assistant Registrar.
The delegation visited relief camps. The inmates expressed satisfaction over the facilities, but they desired the Commission to impress upon the State Government to check naxalism to enable them to return to their homes. The delegation visited Ajeevika Mahavidyalaya, where students are provided vocational training from primary to graduate level. Astha Gurukul Vidyalaya was also visited where free quality education is given to the children of families affected by naxal violence.
The delegation also met the NGOs who raised issues of lack of education and health facilities, development of roads and bridges and protection from naxalites to the people working for the betterment of masses. The senior officers gave an overview of the situation and the improvement works being done by the State Government.
The Commission has been organizing such Camp Sittings to take up important cases with the State Governments. Earlier, such sittings have been held in U.P., Bihar, Bengaluru (for four Southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Odisha, Gujarat, Assam and Meghalaya.
The Camp Sitting was attended by NHRC Members, Justice Shri B.C. Patel, Shri Satyabrata Pal and Shri S.C. Sinha, D.G. (Investigation), Smt. Kanwaljit Deol, Joint Secretary, Shri A.K. Shrivastava, Special Rapporteurs, Smt. S. Jalaja and Prof. S. Narayan, Joint Registrar, Shri A.K. Parashar and other senior officers.
Some of the important cases included, 7000 Hysterectomies by unscrupulous doctors in the State, death of 17 tribals in police action in Dantewada, gang rape of 11 minor tribal girls in a Govt. tribal hostel in Kanker, malnutrition of children and pregnant women, fake encounter cases, Soni Sori's treatment in custody.
Concluding the camp sitting, the Commission had an useful interaction with non-governmental organiza-tions. The issues raised included, harassment of human rights defenders, non-registration or delay in registration of FIR's, lack of care of mentally challenged people, non-adherence to the guidelines of the NHRC in the matters of custodial violence and extra judicial killings, delay in issue of caste certificates to tribals etc.
These issues were taken up at a meeting with the Chief Secretary, Additional C.S., DGP, Principal Secretaries of various departments, etc. Some other important issues were: strategy of the State Government to combat Naxalism in the State; atrocities reportedly committed on tribals in districts of Bastar and Dantewada by Police, security forces and Salwa Judum; relief and rehabilitation to victims of such violence; public distribution system; human rights education at State level; prison reforms including over-crowding in jails; indignity to women - practice of witchcraft; health issues like Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) (PCPNDT) Act; Silicosis; Leprosy; and timely submission of legible copies of the reports to the Commission on deaths in encounter and police & judicial custody; delay in submission of compliance reports.
Prior to the Camp Sitting, a seven member NHRC delegation visited Dantewada on 9th and 10th April, 2013. The delegation comprised Justice Shri B.C. Patel and Shri Satyabrata Pal, Members, Smt. S. Jalaja, Spl. Rapporteur, Shri A.K. Parashar, Joint Registrar, Shri Pupul Dutta Prasad, SSP and Shri K.A. Hafeez, Assistant Registrar.
The delegation visited relief camps. The inmates expressed satisfaction over the facilities, but they desired the Commission to impress upon the State Government to check naxalism to enable them to return to their homes. The delegation visited Ajeevika Mahavidyalaya, where students are provided vocational training from primary to graduate level. Astha Gurukul Vidyalaya was also visited where free quality education is given to the children of families affected by naxal violence.
The delegation also met the NGOs who raised issues of lack of education and health facilities, development of roads and bridges and protection from naxalites to the people working for the betterment of masses. The senior officers gave an overview of the situation and the improvement works being done by the State Government.
The Commission has been organizing such Camp Sittings to take up important cases with the State Governments. Earlier, such sittings have been held in U.P., Bihar, Bengaluru (for four Southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu), Odisha, Gujarat, Assam and Meghalaya.