NHRC TEAM VISITS SAIHA DISTRICT IN MIZORAM<br>

A team of National Human Rights Commission led by Member, Mr. Satyabrata Pal visited District Saiha in Mizoram from 14th-18th March, 2010. The visit was part of the Commission's programme of visits to 28 selected districts in the country to evaluate various welfare schemes and their implementation from human rights perspective. The team, comprising Dr. Y.L. Tekhre, Director (Research) and Mrs. Mamta Singh, SSP visited schools, primary and community health centres, police stations, jail, ration shops and took stock of the situation. The issues concerning right to food, education, health, custodial justice were paid specific attention during the field visits. Interestingly, it was found that the District Jail is not having problem of over crowding unlike other prisons in the country, and the prisoners did not have any complaints.
Following are some of the major issues of concern which emerged during the interaction with various functionaries in the workshop and also with the people in the villages:
" Low quantity of ration supplied under PDS per person.
" Primary Health Centres and Hospitals in place but without sufficient number of doctors and staff.
" Lack of specialized diagnostic centre at district level.
" Connectivity by road is very poor.
" Scarcity of safe drinking water.
" Funds under various policies from Centre to State are easy but difficult to reach from State to District.
" Mid-day meal scheme in both Aanganwadi centre and schools needs immediate attention.