Shillong, May 18: The National Human Rights Commission concluded its two-day Open Hearing and Camp Sitting at Guwahati today for the cases of rights violations in Assam and Meghalaya.
In all 43 matters were taken up during Full Commission and two Division Benches after the inauguration of the programme by Justice HL Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC.
He emphasized upon the need for effective implementation of the Centre’s Flagship Schemes to ensure that the marginalised sections are not deprived of their basic rights and that their rights are not violated.
The Commission was informed by the concerned authorities of the two State Governments that in 10 cases, Rs 259.5 lakhs were paid as monetary relief to the victims or their families.
In one case of alleged death in police custody, the Government of Assam was issued a notice to show cause why monetary relief of Rs 3 lakhs should not be recommended to be paid to the next of kin of the deceased, besides Rs 50 thousand to the injured.
In 13 cases, the reports received from the Government authorities were taken on record for analysis. In other cases, further time was granted for submission of the requisite reports.
The Full Commission took up issues such as Forest Rights of Chakma people, massacre incident which occurred on 2.5.2014, trafficking of girls, Child Labour Issues, an incident of rape on a tribal minor girl and denial of basic amenities to the people.
In the Division Bench hearings, the cases of deaths during police action and deaths of persons in custody of the State were taken up.
On the second day, the Commission had discussions with various NGO’s from the States of Assam and Meghalaya on the various aspects of Human Rights violations and the need for the proactive participation by the Commission and the States for amelioration of the various sections of the society.
These NGO’s invited attention to many areas such as unlawful arrest, handcuffing, maternal heath and other health services, custodial torture and death, low wages in tea gardens, problem of witch hunting, regulatory measures for sale of acid, human trafficking, lack of immediate response by police on FIRs pertaining to missing children, lack of awareness on human rights, and implementation and proper utilization of State disaster relief fund.
The Commission also had detailed interaction with the officials of the two State governments in an effort to sensitize the State machinery and their role and cooperation in better protection of human rights. The Commission was assured of fullest cooperation by the State Governments for providing justice and succour to the marginalised sections of the society.
The National Human Rights Commission in the light of its mandate under section 12 of the Protection of Human rights Act, 1993 has been holding Camp Sittings and Open hearings in various parts of the country to serve people at their door step.
