Date:23/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/23/stories/2004122301110900.htm

National

NHRC notice to Rajasthan

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 22. Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report on December 15 on child deaths increasing in Rajasthan, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the State Chief Secretary to send a factual report within three weeks.

The news item stated that 12 children between the age of two months and 10 years died in the last one month due to seasonal diseases at Jeerahera village in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district. The report also stated that the number of victims affected by malaria in the village had increased. It alleged that the authorities had blamed the family of the victims for their ignorance and lack of health awareness.

The Commission observed that if the contents of the report were true, it raised serious issues of violation of human rights as well as right to health care.