22k cases from Odisha registered with NHRC in last one year

Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over the socio-economic condition of people in Odisha, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman HL Dattu on Monday said the commission has registered a total of 21,912 cases from the state in last one year.

“A number of these cases relate to issues concerning internal displacement, child and bonded labour, implementation, and enforcement of the Forest Rights Act 2006, problems faced by farmers and agricultural labourers, trafficking in women and children, and socio-economic backwardness of the KBK districts, among others,” said Dattu while inaugurating a three-day camp court of the commission here.

He said the effective implementation of key socio-economic flagship programs of the Government of India are crucial in ensuring the socio-economic well-being of particularly those who grapple with poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities on an everyday basis.

He said starvation deaths in the KBK districts have also been of concern to the Commission since the time that it first took cognizance of the matter in the 1990s.

The NHRC chairperson said there is a close connection between the proper implementation of socio-economic schemes and programs and the well-being of people and protection of their human rights.

“Hence, it is vital that in the education sector, schools function properly; Anganwadi centres under the ICDS are provided requisite infrastructural and financial support to function effectively; and PHCs and CHCs run effectively by ensuring that vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff are filled up and there is proper supply of medicines in these centres and hospitals,” he pointed out.