'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' at Thiruvananthapuram

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC held a three day 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' on the issues of human rights concerning the people of Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram from the 8th - 10th April, 2015.
After inauguration, the NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri K G Balakrishnan, Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S.C. Sinha heard 85 complaints in the 'Open Hearing' on the problems of people of the Scheduled Caste communities. In most of the complaints, the Commission gave immediate directions calling for reports from the concerned authorities of the State Government.
The complaints were mainly related to the non-allotment of land or delay in giving possession of
land allotted to the people of Scheduled Caste communities, delay or non-registration of complaints by police and problems in payment of pension.

In the 'Camp Sitting', the Commission took up 24 cases pending compliance and other reports from the State Government. These included 19 cases on different issues of human rights violations in its 'Full Commission Sitting' and five cases of deaths in police custody in its two Division Benches. The Commission awarded compensation of Rs. 2,50,000 in the three cases of deaths in police custody.
The Commission expressed its dissatisfaction over the tardy progress in the setting up of a Tribunal to settle the claims of the victims of Endosulfan and asked the State Government to expedite it.
In the matter related to the trafficking of children from the other States for orphanages in Kerala, the Commission asked the State Government to inform about the circular issued by the Social Justice Department regarding the guidelines to the orphanages and whether they were adhering to them. The Commission expressed concern over the torture and exploitation of Tribals who migrated from the bordering District of Waynad in Kerala to Karnataka to earn a living out of engagement in ginger cultivation. The Commission asked the Kerala State Labour Department to submit report on the steps taken for providing menial jobs to the people in the District in the light of the Section 20 of the Migrant Labour Act.
After the 'Open Hearing' and the 'Camp Sitting', the Commission held a meeting with the representatives of the NGOs which was followed by a meeting with senior officers.
The issues of discussions covered reforms in prison and juvenile homes, problems of migrant labourers in Kerala, problems of Scheduled Castes and other depressed sections of society as well as the issues which were brought to the notice of the Commission during its 'Open Hearing' and discussions with NGOs. Rising population of stray dogs and cases of dog bites, anomalies in distribution of ration and other supplies in tribal areas, non-allotment and non-possession of land to Scheduled Castes and police inaction over their complaints etc. was also discussed. The officers were sensitized on the importance of human rights issues and timely submission of requisite reports to the Commission in disposal of cases. The media was briefed about the outcome of 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting'.