NHRC Booklets for Rights' Awareness
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Vol. 26 No. 5 May, 2019 NHRC booklets for rights' awareness Inside ..... NHRC, India attends 10th Session of the UN General Assembly’s... 2 Compliance with NHRC recommendations 9 Open House Discussion on the ‘Right to Food and Nutrition’ 3 NHRC visits IHBAS, Dilshad Garden, Delhi 10 NHRC releases booklets on ten subjects with a human rights perspective 4 Mr. Justice Prafulla Chandra Pant joins as Member, NHRC 10 NHRC research project on ‘Status of human rights education in... 5 Dr. Dnyaneshwar Manohar Mulay joins as Member, NHRC 11 Suo Motu Cognizance 6 Human Rights and NHRC in News, April, 2019 12 NHRC spot enquiries 8 Complaints received/processed in April, 2019 12 Recommendations for relief 8 Visit NHRC, India at: www.nhrc.nic.in HUMAN RIGHTS NEWSLETTER, MAY, 2019 “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” - Nelson Mandela NHRC, India attends 10th Session of the UN General Assembly’s Open-ended Working Group on Ageing delegation from the National General, NHRC, India spoke in the in the Life-long Learning process, the A Human Rights Commission, India first Session on the Agenda Item 6: Government of India introduced in comprising Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, “Focus Area : Education, Training, 1988 the National Literacy Mission Chairperson, NHRC and Mr. Jaideep Life-long Learning and Capacity to eradicate illiteracy; and in 1992, Govind, Secretary General, NHRC Building” on 16th April, 2019. He said the National Policy on Education th attended the 10 Session of the UN that the NHRC, India in accordance to provide a policy framework of Open-ended Working Group on with the mandate provided under the the education system. Continuing Ageing (OEWGA) in New York from PHR Act, 1993 has been monitoring Education (CE) Programme was th th 15 -18 April, 2019. The aim of the the status of the rights of older launched to achieve the policy goals Session was to provide substantive persons, particularly on the issues of aimed to cater to the diverse learning inputs on the two focused areas, equality and non-discrimination as needs and to create life-long learning namely, “Education, environment. With a view Training, Life-long Learning to expand the scope of the and Capacity Building” CE Programme, Life-long and “Social Protection and Education and Awareness Social Security (including Programme Centres were social protection floors)”. designated in 2007. The Working Group He said that another on Ageing was established variant of the National by the General Assembly Literacy Mission was by resolution 65/182 on launched in the form of st 21 December 2010. It Sakshar Bharat, which is mandated to examine provided functional the existing international literacy to non-literate and framework of the human From R to L : NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu and Secretary General, Mr. Jaideep Govind at the 10th session of OEWGA in New York facilitated skill development rights of older persons and opportunities for neo- and identify possible gaps and how well as violence, neglect and abuse. literates. In its efforts in the direction best to address them, including by It monitors aspects concerning social of life-long learning process, the Indian considering, as appropriate, the protection, security, health-care, access Government initiated the capacity feasibility of further instruments and to socio-economic programmes and building of the aged persons through measures. other rights and entitlements of older Integrated Programme for Older Addressing the opening persons. Persons, 2011 (revised in 2016). Session, Ms Amal Abou Rafeh, Further, in his intervention, the The University Grants Commission Chief, Programme on Ageing, UN (UGC) – the highest statutory body of Secretary General stated that the Department of Economics and Social higher education in India – formulated life-long learning is also a cherished Affairs introduced the subject and the Guidelines on Life-long goal of the Sustainable Development spoke at length about the challenges Learning and Extension. that lie ahead. Agenda. He informed the gathering that in order to contribute to the While participating in the Second Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, Life-long Learning process, India, in Session, the Secretary General, NHRC NHRC, India, during the deliberations, the year 1966, formed the Indian stated that in India, there is a growing emphasized the need of the protection concern of demographic ageing in Education Commission, which stated of elderly persons by providing basic spite of the phase of demographic that “Education does not end with amenities like shelter, food, medical dividend. The Government of schooling, but is a lifelong process. care, maintenance and protection India, acknowledging the need to The adult needs an understanding against abuse. He said that the formulate policies and programmes of the rapidly changing world and Constitution of India guarantees for elderly persons, took the first the growing complexities of society.” equality before law, equal protection major initiative through the National of laws and non-discrimination to all However, it remained dominated by Policy on Older Persons (NPOP), persons, without exception. the concept of adult literacy. 1999 (revised in 2016), National Mr. Jaideep Govind, Secretary He said that continuing its efforts Council for Senior Citizens (NCSrC) 2 HUMAN RIGHTS NEWSLETTER, MAY, 2019 for formulation and implementation Programme for Senior Citizens, of the existing laws and Government of the programmes for the elderly National Old Age Pension Scheme, policies. In 2018, the Core Group persons, the Maintenance and 2007 and Annapurna Scheme to recommended the concerned Union Welfare of Parents and Senior provide financial assistance and food Ministries of the Government to Citizens Act, 2007, National security to Below Poverty Line (BPL) revise old age pension; nomination Programme for Health Care of elderly persons. The audience was also of a police official as a Nodal Officer the Elderly (NPHCE), Ayushman briefed about the Rashtriya Vayoshri in every police station for dealing with the issues concerning elderly Bharat, a health insurance scheme, Yojana (RVY) of the Government of persons; and replication of the launched in 2018 in order to provide India to cater to the need of assistive Switzerland’s “Time Bank Scheme”. healthcare facilities to the left-out technology and aids of senior citizens, The representatives of UN, State especially women, children and the especially senior citizens with disability. elderly without having put a cap on Parties, NGOs and other NHRIs made the family size and age. Information The Secretary General highlighted presentations and shared their best was also given about Senior Citizen’s that the Commission on its part practices and elaborated the areas and Welfare Fund established for is keeping a close watch on the issues where further protection and promoting financial security, welfare implementation aspects of various action is needed. of elderly widows, nutrition of senior programmes to ensure that the The details of the agenda citizens, old age homes, short stay benefits reached the targeted needy. deliberations and video link to the homes and day care for senior citizens. The Commission has a Core Group presentation made by NHRC, India The Secretary General also made on Disability and Elderly Persons to are available at https://social.un.org/ a brief mention of the Integrated assist it in review and enforcement ageing-working-group/. Open House Discussion on the ‘Right to Food and Nutrition’ he National Human Rights flagship schemes of the government, Food Security Act in line with Public TCommission, India held an open namely, ICDS and Mid-day Meal Distribution System and Integrated house discussion on the “Right to schemes. Child Development Services (ICDS) Food and Nutrition” at its premises which included, among others; Earlier, Mr. Jaideep Govind, th on the 12 April 2019. The aim was Secretary General, NHRC said that Inclusion and exclusion errors in the to review the status of the National the right to food is intrinsic to living identification of beneficiaries under Food Security Act, 2013, identify a life with dignity and it includes Public Distribution System (PDS); gaps in its effective implementation proper emphasis on adequate nutrition Marginal rise in total distribution of and recommend remedial measures. content, Chairning the discussion. Mr. Justice which must H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC said be met and that Article 21 read with Artice 47 not remain of the Consitution of India make a theoretical the State duty bound towards its concept. He obligation in effective realization said that of right to food of the citizens of although a the country. He highlighted that wide spectrum although in recent period, India has of national made a faster economic growth, the programmers/ nutritional status among women & schemes such children remains a matter of concern. as NFSA, NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice H.L. Dattu chairing the ‘Open House Discussion’ Justice Dattu dwelt upon the NDM, ICDS, challenges in realization of right to POSHAN Abhiyan have contributed food grains under the PDS from 51.4 food of the citizens of the country in towards improved nutrition outcomes, million tons to 55 million tons; Need terms of inaccurate identification of yet the pace of decline of nutritional for distributing millets through the household leakages in food grains status is far below what numerous PDS; Evaluation of PDS at regular delivery system, shortfall in storage countries with similar growth intervals; Weak grievance redressal capacity with FCI etc. He apprised trajectories to India have achieved. mechanism under the National Food the participants that the NHRC has The representatives from NGOs Security Act, 2013; Ensuring food been emphasizing on the proper and subject experts expressed their grains to extreme vulnerable group implementation of National Food concern on varied issues pertaining to especially tribals; Provision of culturally Security Act, 2013 and also the the implementation of the National appropriate food to the poor under 3 HUMAN RIGHTS NEWSLETTER, MAY, 2019 PDS; Poor functioning of biometric II.