NHRC issues a Show-Cause Notice to Chief Secretary, UP on the callous
attitude of the Kanpur Administration during Gandhi Jayanti Celebrations
New Delhi, March 9, 2007
The National Human Rights Commission has sent a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary, UP for the callous attitude of the Kanpur Administration resulting in the ill health of 49 children during Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. The move comes on a complaint, which was filed by Ms. Nivedita Sharma, Advocate, highlighting the inhuman and irresponsible attitude of the Kanpur Administration. According to the complaint dated October 11, 2005 the children of a school were asked to gather at 6 AM for the Gandhi Jayanti function scheduled to start at 10 AM. The Chief Guest, however reached the venue at 1 PM and the children were forced to sit in scorching heat without food or shelter. As a result, many children fainted, the complaint said. It also said there was no arrangement for first-aid or transport at the venue and most parents had to shift their children to private nursing homes and hospitals.
Taking cognizance of the complaint, the Commission issued notice to the District Magistrate, Kanpur and called for a report. The report received from ADM, Kanpur contained the joint inquiry prepared by SSP and DM, Kanpur. The joint report said that five doctors, two ambulances and four water tankers had been arranged to take care of the children. The report also stated that 10,000 children had gathered in the open and some of them became unwell at 10:45 am and 49 children were sent to hospital.
After going through the joint report, the Commission said that the local administration had admitted that some children became unwell after more than four hours of being in heat yet no steps were taken to protect other children from the scorching sun. The Commission said, following the condition of 49 children, the administration should have taken immediate measures to provide some relief to others who continued to sit in the sun for another three hours. This indicates a total lack of care on the part of the administration for the health of the children and it is a case of blatant violation of Human Rights of Children.
The Commission has said why "interim relief" should not be recommended to these 49 children who became unwell due to the irresponsible attitude of the local administration. The Kanpur Administration has been given four weeks time for response.
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The National Human Rights Commission has sent a show-cause notice to the Chief Secretary, UP for the callous attitude of the Kanpur Administration resulting in the ill health of 49 children during Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. The move comes on a complaint, which was filed by Ms. Nivedita Sharma, Advocate, highlighting the inhuman and irresponsible attitude of the Kanpur Administration. According to the complaint dated October 11, 2005 the children of a school were asked to gather at 6 AM for the Gandhi Jayanti function scheduled to start at 10 AM. The Chief Guest, however reached the venue at 1 PM and the children were forced to sit in scorching heat without food or shelter. As a result, many children fainted, the complaint said. It also said there was no arrangement for first-aid or transport at the venue and most parents had to shift their children to private nursing homes and hospitals.
Taking cognizance of the complaint, the Commission issued notice to the District Magistrate, Kanpur and called for a report. The report received from ADM, Kanpur contained the joint inquiry prepared by SSP and DM, Kanpur. The joint report said that five doctors, two ambulances and four water tankers had been arranged to take care of the children. The report also stated that 10,000 children had gathered in the open and some of them became unwell at 10:45 am and 49 children were sent to hospital.
After going through the joint report, the Commission said that the local administration had admitted that some children became unwell after more than four hours of being in heat yet no steps were taken to protect other children from the scorching sun. The Commission said, following the condition of 49 children, the administration should have taken immediate measures to provide some relief to others who continued to sit in the sun for another three hours. This indicates a total lack of care on the part of the administration for the health of the children and it is a case of blatant violation of Human Rights of Children.
The Commission has said why "interim relief" should not be recommended to these 49 children who became unwell due to the irresponsible attitude of the local administration. The Kanpur Administration has been given four weeks time for response.
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