Debate competition on Human Rights for Para-military Forces

As a part of the Commission’s endeavour to spread human rights consciousness amongst para-millitary forces, a national-level debate competition concerning human rights was organised at the CRPF Headquarters in New Delhi on 24 March 1999. The subject for the debate was "Is the duty of Para-military Forces restricted to the observance of Human rights or extends to the protection of Human Rights of others?"

Twenty-two participants from the Border Security Force, National Security Guards, Railway Protection Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Assam Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force took part in the debate. The team trophy was won by the CISF.

In the individual prizes category, Mr. B.D. Mishra from Assam Rifles got the first prize, Ms. Aradhana from CISF, got the second and NSG personnel, Mr. Gopal Prasad Singh, got the third prize in the Hindi section. In the English section, Mr. Aditya Jha, Assistant Commandant with CISF, bagged the first prize, Ms. Mamta Singh from CRPF got the second and Mr. Mukesh Pawar from BSF got the third prize.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairperson Mr.Justice M.N.Venkatachaliah said that the personnel of the para-military forces should uphold the rule of law and respect human rights during the course of their operations. The personnel on the field should remember that every human being has the inalienable right of respect and dignity as accepted by law. He added that means should be as upright as the end, and justice should not be done by unjust means. The personnel of these forces have to sustain the common man’s faith in them.

The DG (I) of the Commission, Shri D.R. Karthikeyan, said that the objective of such debate competitions was to ensure that consciousness of human rights percolated to the lowest level among the personnel of para-military forces. He stressed upon the need to create a transparent human rights culture in the country. "This culture should then be nourished and be allowed to blossom gradually," he added.