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New Delhi, Oct 23 (IANS) Pointing to 3,639 deaths due to cold wave between 2019 and 2023, the NHRC on Thursday asked the administrations of 19 state governments and 4 union territories to take precautionary measures ahead of the upcoming winter season and implement relief measures for vulnerable people.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed state and union territory governments to protect newborns, children, infants, the poor, the elderly, the homeless, the destitute and those involved in begging, who are at risk of exposure to the cold wave due to lack of shelter and resources, a statement said.
The Commission also sought an action taken report from the government on the steps taken to deal with the cold wave and stressed the need to sensitize the concerned State/UT officials.
Highlighting the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’ between 2019 and 2023, the commission said a total of 3,639 people died due to exposure to cold wave in the country.
In its letter to states and Union Territory administrations, the Commission reiterated the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines to mitigate the impact of the cold wave.
The Commission acknowledged that changing weather patterns due to climate change affect human rights and reaffirmed its commitment to protect vulnerable populations affected by extreme weather events, ensuring that their dignity is respected and upheld.
The NHRC urged to sensitize the authorities and sought action taken report from the authorities on the measures adopted to prevent any untoward incident and protect the vulnerable population from the adverse effects of the cold wave.
It also listed NDMA guidelines to mitigate the impact of the cold wave, including: setting up treatment protocols; establishment of day and night shelters; Provide medical care and implement standard treatment procedures for cold-related illnesses and ensure frequent monitoring of relief efforts and adopt a proactive approach to ensure their effectiveness.
According to the NCRB report ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India, 2023’, out of 6,444 accidental deaths caused by forces of nature, about 11.4 per cent of the deaths were due to ‘exposure to cold’.
–IANS
RCH/RAD