Headlines
Kerala has better human rights indices: NHRC
Thiruvananthapuram, April 8
The National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) received fewer complaints from Kerala as it
had better human rights indices compared to many other states, its
chairperson Justice (Retd.) K.G. Balakrishnan has said.
He was
speaking on Wednesday while inaugurating a three-day 'Open Hearing' and
'Camp Sitting' here on human rights violation issues in Kerala.
"The
NHRC received less number of complaints from Kerala as it had better
human rights indices compared to many other states because of high
literacy rates, health care and other facilities," said Balakrishnan, a
former chief justice of India who also hails from the state.
"But
there were still some problems like the issue of endosulphan spraying
and its impact on health, which needed to be looked into," he added.
He
said the NHRC has been trying to reach out to people in various parts
of the country through its 'Open Hearings' of complaints about
atrocities.
"Such hearings along with the disposal of some cases
at the 'Camp Sittings' have helped in sensitising the government
machinery and civil society towards human rights issues.
"But
with the work related to the disposal of so many complaints received
each year, it is not possible for them to go outstation and organise
such programmes very frequently," he said.
Welcoming this mode
of redressal, Nalini Netto, additional chief secretary of Kerala, hoped
that the NHRC's 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' would prove to be a
major step towards proactive good governance.
A.K.Garg, registrar
(law), NHRC, said if the government complied with their
recommendations, the people would benefit. "Without the cooperation of
the state governments, the endeavours of the NHRC towards helping them
in good governance cannot be successful."
Balakrishnan and his team would wind up the three-day sitting on Friday.