Karnataka - Bangalore

Human rights panel calls for greater partnership with NGOs

Staff Reporter

The task of the NHRC is staggering, says Chairman S. Rajendra Babu

DISCUSSION: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi listening to NHRC Chairman S. Rajendra Babu at the conference on the role of NGOs in support of the NHRC, in Bangalore on Saturday. They are flanked by NHRC members Y. Bhaskar Rao (left) and Shivaraj V. Patil. &# 151; Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: The task of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is staggering, considering the tens of thousands of complaints that it receives every year. It is crucial, therefore, that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are given a greater role in helping the commission, Chairman of the Commission S. Rajendra Babu has said.

He was speaking at a national conference on the "Role of NGOs in support of NHRC in better promotion and protection of human rights", organised jointly by the Commission and the Karnataka Judicial Academy here on Saturday.

"NGOs must be the eyes and ears of the Government; they have been working at the grassroots level long before the Commission even came into existence, and their experience is vital for the Commission as catalysts for action," the former Chief Justice of India said.

Range of complaints

The Commission receives complaints that range from custodial violence and false encounters to child rights issues and caste atrocities. NGOs, through their regular requests for information, demands for urgent action, spot visits and their reports presented to the Commission, have made themselves an indispensable partner, he said.

The Commission has, however, been criticised for not being able to exercise enough pressure on the Government, Mr. Babu said. Citing the example of manual scavenging, he said the State had been "painfully slow" in eradicating the degrading practice despite the Commission's work.

H. Sudarshan, member of the Core Group on Health, NHRC, said, "Protecting health and fulfilling human rights are inextricably linked. It is a matter of great concern, therefore, that the health sector is the second most corrupt sector in India, after the Police Department, according to a 2005 report by the India Chapter of Transparency International."

"It seems to be an epidemic of corruption in the health services, from birth to death, beginning with female foeticide and ending with bribes taken even for a post-mortem. Almost all personnel, from contract workers to specialists, have been implicated in malpractice, whether while procuring equipment or while giving medical certificates. Graver examples of corruption are seen in the organ trade and in the conducting of unnecessary surgeries," he said.

Panel criticised

The Commission came in for criticism from Henri Tiphagne, member, Core Group of NGOs, NHRC, who said that NGOs needed to be given a far greater role in the Commission and not treated merely as "pretty wallflowers". He lamented that people with no experience were part of State Human Rights Commissions.

More rapporteurs soon

To this, Shivaraj V. Patil, member of the NHRC, said that while it was true that only 17 States had State Human Rights Commissions, there would soon be an increase in the number of district rapporteurs. He added that the Commission received close to 83,000 cases last year, which could only be dealt with the support of civil society organisations.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi said he was not enamoured of the term "non-governmental organisation", for it implied a conflict of interest with government bodies. "NGOs should not only be driven by emotion but must get more actively involved in matters of governance and provide guidelines to the Government." NGOs were an extension of civil society, and the spirit of volunteerism needed to be encouraged, he said.

The two-day conference will conclude on Sunday.

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