Zonal level Debate Competition on Human Rights<br> for Central Para-military Forces

Since 1996, the Commission has been conducting an annual Debate Competition on Human Rights for the personnel of Central Para-military Forces on a current topic relevant to Human Rights. The Trophy known as 'National Human Rights Awareness Trophy' is awarded to the Best Debating Team of the year. However with an aim to encourage larger participation and to select the talented participants for the final competition, from this year, zone-wise debate competitions are being held for various regions across the country prior to the final competition. The topic of debate for this year is "How relevant are the Human Rights for Prisoners and Prisoners of War". Debate competitions for the Delhi, Northeast as well as Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal zone were held recently.
The Zonal Meet for the North East region was organized by D.G. Assam Rifles at the campus of Assam Rifles Public School, Laitkor, Shillong from 29 - 30 June 2004. Shri R.S. Kalha, Member of the Commission who judged the debate competition said that the government should provide more than an enabling environment for the vulnerable groups of society to protect human rights. In overall performance, the CRPF was adjudged the winner and BSF runners-up.
The debate competition for the Delhi zone for the personnel of units located in Delhi, Rajasthan and Haryana was held under the aegis of National Security Guard at its Training Centre located at Manesar, Haryana on 22 July 2004. Shri P.C. Sharma, Member, NHRC, Shri T.R. Kakkar, former Director General, NSG and Sudhir Choudhary, DIG, NHRC who were the judges selected the team from NSG as winners and BSF as runners up.
The competition for the zone of Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal was organized at the ITBP Academy at Mussoorie on 5th and 6th August 2004. Shri Santosh Kumar, DG (I), NHRC presided over the competition, the other Judges being Shri Sudhir Choudhary, DIG, NHRC and Shri S.P. Chamoli, DIG (Retd.), ITBP. ITBP were adjudged winners in both the Hindi and English sections while the runners up for the English debate went to CRPF and RPF's team was selected as runners up in the Hindi debate.
The zonal level winners will now represent their respective zones in the final competition to be held in November 2004 at Delhi.
Zonal level competitions have already been held at Mumbai for the Western region while zonal competitions for the Central, East and South are yet to be held.