NHRC's three-day 'Camp Sitting' and 'Open Hearing' at Bhubaneswar, Odisha

A high level delegation led by Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC comprising Members, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S.C. Sinha and senior officers visited Odisha to hold the 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' of the Commission at Bhubaneswar from 9th - 11th January, 2017. In the 'Open Hearing' a total of 107 complaints, relating to violation of human rights of the people from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Communities, were taken up. Of these, 47 cases were finally disposed of. In two cases, the Commission directed for spot enquiries by its own team. In five cases, monetary relief of Rs. 4.65 lakh was recommended. In a case of prima facie violation of human rights, a show cause notice was issued. In the remaining cases, more reports and comments from the concerned authorities and the complainants respectively were called.
In the Camp Sitting, the Full Commission heard 25 important cases of human rights violation. These included cases of alleged violations in KBK districts, POSCO project, practice of witchcraft, death of infants in hospital(s), malnutrition, child labour, deaths due to electrocution and Japanese encephalitis. In ten cases of electrocution, the Commission recommended monetary relief of Rs. 23.10 lakhs to the victims.
After the 'Camp Sitting', the Commission held discussions with the NGOs on various issues of human rights in the State. These included human rights education in school curriculum, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Kandhamal district, strengthening of SHRCs, monitoring of renewal of Blood Bank licenses, effective implementation of Forest Rights Act etc.
Later, the Commission discussed these issues with the senior officers of the State Government and impressed upon them to take proactive action to ameliorate the cause of human rights by submitting reports, timely, to the NHRC. The NHRC Chairperson also briefed the media about the outcome of the 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting'.