National Seminar on the Concept of Panchayati Raj & Human Rights<br>

The Panchayati Raj Institutions have a major role to play in the protection and promotion of human rights at the grassroots level. The National Human Rights Commission organized a day long seminar in Hindi titled 'Concept of Panchayati Raj and Human Rights' at Kochi in Kerala on the 30th July, 2010.
Inaugurating the seminar, the Chairperson, NHRC, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said that the targets for the social development could be achieved quickly, if better coordination is maintained with the Panchayati Raj Institutions, which ensure participatory democracy. The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution that strengthened the structure and functioning of the Panchayats, widened and strengthened the representative base of democracy in India.
Justice Balakrishnan said that active participation of the society increases awareness among the people about their rights and duties. However, it is a point of concern that due to many reasons which include, among others, misuse of power, poverty and social disparity, the people are sometimes deprived of their basic human rights.
NHRC Chairperson said that economic growth without social justice leads to social unrest, conflict and terrorism, and that the Panchayats can play an effective role in protecting the inherent basic human rights of the people. In this context, he referred to a recent social audit of the working of the Panchayats through a reality show on Doordarshan Malayalam, and said that the programme demonstrated how the representatives of various Panchayats in Kerala were vying with each other to show their good work done in health, education, agriculture and horticulture among various areas of social development. It was an eye opener to the people that the Panchayats are not merely a place for politics, but also a cradle for the social development. That is why the National Human Rights Commission believes that Panchayats can be the harbinger of social revolution, and that they can effectively remove the social evils from the society.
Justice Balakrishnan also referred to the need for having a social system where everyone gets equal opportunities. He also expressed concern over the increasing incidents of honour killings in the country and said that it should be tackled as a law and order problem. He also said that the discussion on the concept of Panchayati Raj and human rights in Hindi language on the soil of South India is significant, as this language serves as a link between other Indian languages as well as gives strength to the emotional unity of the country.
Chairing the inaugural session, Member, NHRC, Mr. P.C. Sharma made a special reference to the role of Kerala in giving impetus to the Panchayati Raj, and recalled how in the year 1958, the first Chief Minister of the State, Mr. E.M.S. Namboodiripad, recommended for a strong local self governance which reduced economic disparity, and helped the deprived and marginalized sections of the society.
He said that the issues of inequality and social discrimination will continue, if human rights of all are not recognized. The best way to overcome all such issues is to spread awareness about human rights, and also motivate the people to protect them.
Mr. Sharma said that this campaign can be more successful with the help of the Panchayats, which comprise common people as the grassroots level functionaries, who can make an assessment of their needs, and collectively work to meet them.
Earlier, welcoming the participants, Secretary General, NHRC, Mr. K.S. Money said that though the Panchayati Raj system had been an integral part of the socio-economic framework of the Pre-colonial India, it was the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India that set the stage for revitalisation of the Panchayats. He added that the Panchayats are not only the symbols of administrative decentralisation and devolution of political power, but also instruments to mobilise social resources to speed up economic progress through self governance. Mr. Money said that the only way to empower the poor in the vast rural sector is to strengthen the Panchayat Raj System which would also enhance individual freedom and dignity of human beings even at the grass root level. He felt that the work of the National Human Rights Commission and the
Panchayati Raj Institutions, in a democracy, is complementary to each other. He said that this is the sixth National Seminar in Hindi organized by the Commission, and the first in
the Southern region, so that the scope of discussion and debate on various facets of human rights could be widened.
After the inaugural session, the seminar was divided in to two academic sessions followed by a valedictory session. A number of eminent scholars participated in the discussions, including the distinguished educationist and jurist, Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon, social reformist and the founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, , noted Hindi writer, Prof. Arunesh Niran, Dr. Subhash Sharma, Dr. Pratibha, Dr. Roopa Manglani, Mr. Rakesh Renu, Mr. U.K. S. Chauhan, Mr. Rajesh Pratap Singh, Dr. Kumud Sharma, Prof. Vinod Shukla and District Youth Coordinator, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Cochin, Ms. Molly A.V. The sessions were focused on various aspects relating to the role of the Panchayati Raj Institutions in the social welfare activities and how these could actively contribute to the cause of human rights.
Addressing the valedictory session, noted Jurist and Educator, Prof. N.R. Madhava Menon said that NHRC should work in close coordination with some select Panchayats in Kerala for the protection of socio-economic rights, particularly in the context of the implementation of the Right to Education. Echoing the views of the Chairperson, NHRC, he said that Kerala is an acknowledged leader in terms of experiments and innovations in the field of local governance. He highlighted the action taken by the Perumatty Gram Panchayat in Kerala's Palakkad district against a multi-national company for having affected the natural resources in Plachimada, inhabited by predominantly tribal population.