The National Human Rights Commission organised its 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' at Patna, Bihar from the 21st to 23rd April, 2016. Inaugurating it, Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC said that despite the efforts by the Government of Bihar some concerns still remained to be addressed in the areas like manual scavenging, rights of women and children, health facilities, implementation of Right to Education Act, etc.
Three Single Member Benches of Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S.C. Sinha heard 67 cases on the grievances of the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes in the 'Open Hearing'. Out of this, 30 cases were finally disposed of. In a number of cases, the complainants were provided relief by the State on the intervention of the Commission.
During the 'Camp Sitting', the Full Commission took up 11 cases. In a case of 247 rescued child/bonded labourers in Delhi in the year 2005/2006, the Commission recommended to the State Government to frame a policy to use an unutilized fund of Rs. 61,50,000/- given to it by the Delhi Government for the rehabilitation of child/bonded labourers. Three cases were closed after payment of compensation of Rs. 4,71,250/- to the victims/ Next of Kin (NoK) of the deceased.
In the two Division Benches, the Commission took up ten cases. Three cases were closed after the victims or their NoK were paid compensation of Rs. 8,25,000/- by the State Government on the recommendation of the Commission.
On the last day of its visit to Bihar, the Commission held an interaction with the NGO's, who raised, among others, issues like rehabilitation of bonded labour, impartial social audit of Government welfare schemes (ICDS, MNREGA etc) and Non-implementation of Supreme Court Guidelines regarding reservation of 25 per cent seat for the economically backward children in private schools.
The Commission took up these as well as other issues in its meeting with the senior officers of the State Government for improving human rights situation. They were particularly asked to submit reports timely to the Commission. The issue of proper implementation of the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 was also highlighted. The Commission said that the non-payment of minimum wages is the first threshold test for bonded labour.
The Commission also discussed the shortcomings in the implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, non-functioning of sub-centres and faulty X-Ray machines, problems relating to Anganwadis, which came to light after the visit of its teams to the districts of East Champaran, Jamui, Katihar and Bhojpur. Later, the Chairperson and Members also briefed the media persons at a press conference on the outcome of its 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' in Bihar.
The National Human Rights Commission has been organising 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sittings' in different States with an aim to hear the problems of Scheduled Caste; dispose of pending cases; sensitize senior Government officers about the importance of human rights issues and compliance of NHRC recommendations; to meet the local NGOs to get an insight into the problems being faced by the people and to interact with media for wider dissemination of information about the outcome of the 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting'.