The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India organized a Statutory Full Commission meeting of all 7 deemed member Commissions and Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi today. The meeting aimed to enhance synergy and cooperation among the Commissions to promote and protect human rights.
Chairing the meeting, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC, India emphasised the importance of collaborative functioning among the Commissions. He suggested convening joint meetings of Statutory Full Commission members at regular intervals and creating a mechanism to hyperlink the websites of all Commissions to avoid duplication of cases.
The meeting discussed various issues, including the protection of rights of vulnerable and marginalized sections, sharing best practices, and minimising duplication of cases. The participants emphasised the need for joint fact-finding missions, awareness campaigns, and outreach programmes.
Shri Kishor Makwana, Chairperson, National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) spoke about proactive measures taken by the Commission for the rights and welfare of the SC communities.
Smt Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW) said that NCW has been focusing on complaints, research, awareness and outreach training programmes for the welfare of women.
Smt Tripti Gurha, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) emphasised on running awareness campaigns to stop child trafficking and to ensure faster legal remedies in POSCO cases.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nirupam Chakma, Member, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief Commissioner, Commission for Persons with Disabilities and Shri Daniel E. Richards, representing the National Commission for Minorities also shared their perspectives and made arguments in favour of having a joint mechanism between the sectoral commissions for addressing human rights issues of the vulnerable communities.
Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Member, NHRC, India, emphasised the importance of ensuring that welfare schemes reach all sections of society, including the marginalised. NHRC, India Member, Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani remarked that these Commissions are not isolated institutions but a co-traveller working towards promoting and protecting human rights.
Earlier, setting the agenda for the meeting, Shri Bharat Lal, Secretary General, NHRC, India gave an overview of the unique institutional human rights protection framework of the country. He emphasised that such interactions among these institutions are useful in forming a common platform on key issues of human rights and collectively ensure quick relief to the victims.
Shri Samir Kumar, Joint Secretary, NHRC, India summarized the activities undertaken by the Commission over the last year. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to collaborative efforts among the Commissions to promote and protect human rights in India.
