A sensitized student is better statutory armour than the long provisions of law, says NHRC Member, Mr. Justice P.C. Pant

New Delhi, 30th December, 2020

Mr. Justice P. C. Pant, Member, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India today said that a sensitized student is better statutory armour than the long provisions of law, contained with exceptions and provisions, for promoting human rights of the underprivileged, down–trodden and poor people. He was addressing the valedictory session of the 15 days online short term internship of the Commission as the Chief Guest.

Justice Pant said that the idea behind organising such internship programme is to create an empowered society in the country by enabling the young minds to realize the concept of human rights, which is bedrock of a thriving democracy.

Earlier, Mr. Bimbadhar Pradhan, Secretary General, NHRC said that youth participation is critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, many of which have a direct bearing on human rights. The youth need to be empowered with knowledge, particularly in the face of continuing Covid-19 pandemic, to understand a wide range of issues impacting human rights.

Lauding the quality of the research reports prepared by the interns, Mr. Pradhan expressed the hope that the Commission’s sustained engagement with students from across the country would help them have human rights at the core of their hearts to motivate them to become brand ambassadors of human rights.

129 graduate and post-graduate level students, representing different universities from 18 states of the country, attended the internship, which was inaugurated by the NHRC Member, Dr. D.M. Mulay on the 16th December, 2020. In the 45 sessions addressed online by NHRC Member, Mrs. Jyotika Kalra, eminent human rights activists, social workers, subject experts and sr. officers, representing the key government Ministries/Departments, the students were exposed to various aspects of human rights in the backdrop of contemporary challenges.

They were also taken on a virtual tour to Delhi’s Tihar Jail and besides being given opportunity to prepare brief research reports, topics for which included, among others, challenges and way forward in dealing with the issues of Climate Change in India, Manual Scavenging and Transgender Rights. They were also awarded for the best project reports, best book review and winning the declamation contest.

NHRC senior officers, including among others, Mr. Surajit Dey, Registrar (Law), Mrs. Anita Sinha, JS(P&T), Mr. Anubhav Sharma, Presenting Officer, Mrs. Manzil Saini, DIG were present on the occasion.

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