T
he National Human Rights Commission, NHRC organised two days' 'Open Hearing and Camp Sitting' at Girls ITI (IRDT) Auditorium, Dehradun, Uttarakhand on the 13th-14th July, 2017. Inaugurating the programme, Justice Shri P.C. Ghose, Member, NHRC said that 'Open hearings' manifest the Commission's mandate for protection and promotion of human rights. He said that these hearings have been instrumental in giving voice and on the spot relief to the people from the marginalized sections of society. On the occasion, Dr. Ranbir Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Uttarakhand, assured the Commission that the State government is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights.
After the inaugu-ration, the NHRC members, Justice Shri P.C. Ghose, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Smt. Jyotika Kalra heard 27 matters in the 'Open Hearing'. The Commission dis-posed of 15 cases giving directions to the concerned authorities for redressal of the grievances of the complainants.
In a case of death of one Kanwar Singh due to falling in an open drain on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway, the Commission has recommended that the Government of Uttarakhand pay ` 3 lakhs as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased. In four cases, the Commission has sought the comments of the complainants on the reports presented by the State government. In some cases, the Commission has called for further reports from the authorities. It also expressed concern over the delay by the Police in registration of First Information Reports in some cases.
While hearing the cases of bonded labour, the Commission expressed displeasure over the poor response from the concerned government authorities. It said that the District Magistrates and officers of Labour Department needed to be sensitized about provisions of Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act.
Several issues of human rights violations' including bonded labour, prob-lems of Scheduled Castes and other dep-ressed sections of society, were discussed during the meeting with the Chief Secretary, Addl. Chief Secretary, DGP and secretaries of various departments of the State Government. They were told that dealing with the problems of the people with a humane approach would only help them in achieving their goal towards good governance.
The Commission also discussed with the senior officers, the issues raised during its meeting with NGOs. These related to the rights of differently able persons such as non-availability of ramps or lifts for them in public offices, issue of disability certificates, certificate of Autism, denial of admission to such children in regular schools despite the Right to Education Act and other legal provisions, absence of specially trained teachers for them. The subject of denial of admission to street children in schools due to non-issue of birth certificates by Nagar Nigam, despite orders from Child Welfare Committees was also raised.
Issues of forest dwellers' rights and sufferings of Rudiya community, non-payment of compensation to villagers displaced due to acquisition of their lands for development projects, issues of rampant displacement and migration due to lack of education and health facilities, shortage of doctors, nurses, para-medical staff and specialist doctors in government hospitals and lack of mental health care facilities in the State were also brought to the notice of the Commission. The issue of non-implementation of the Disaster Management Act in the State was raised. It was also pointed out that there was lack of remedial measures for issues related to the sexual harassment of women and domestic violence and that there were no rehabilitation centres for victims of such crimes.
Later, the Commission briefed the media about the outcome of the 'Open Hearing and Camp Sitting'.