Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) Former President Ram Nath Kovind will on Thursday inaugurate the 32nd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and deliberate on key human rights concerns with a special focus on the rights and welfare of prison inmates.
Kovind will deliver the inaugural address at the event in the presence of NHRC Chairman Justice V. Ramasubramanian and members Justice (Dr) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharati Sayani and Priyank Kanungo.
According to an official statement, the Commission will also organize a one-day national conference on ‘Human Rights of Prisoners in Prison’, where several sessions will address issues related to dignity, rights and living conditions of people in prison.
NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal, along with senior officials of the Commission, will participate in the event to reflect on the 32-year journey of the organization and reaffirm its mission to protect human rights across the country.
The statement said the festival will bring together a wide-ranging group of participants including representatives of central ministries, state governments, diplomats, legal experts, researchers, academics, civil society members and human rights defenders.
Established on 12 October 1993, the NHRC has consistently advocated policy reforms, transparency in governance and strong accountability mechanisms to ensure impartiality in law enforcement, investigative processes and welfare initiatives over the last 32 years.
Since its inception, the Commission has handled 23.79 lakh cases, including 2,981 suo motu cases. It has recommended monetary relief of over Rs 263 crore to victims of human rights violations in 8,924 cases.
The NHRC has so far issued 31 advisories, covering a range of issues such as access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM), rights of widows, rights of people involved in begging, right to food and health, rights of informal workers to mental health and dignity of the dead, rights of truck drivers, transgender welfare, prevention of suicide attempts by prisoners and reducing ocular trauma.
The Commission has been playing a vital role in promoting police accountability, prison reforms and protection of rights of both accused and victims through research, policy advocacy and public awareness initiatives.
It has also collaborated with central and state governments, public institutions, NGOs and human rights defenders to strengthen the protection of rights for all, especially vulnerable sections of society.
Among its notable interventions, the NHRC has recommended amendments to 97 discriminatory laws affecting persons with Hansen’s disease.
Between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, the Commission handled 73,849 complaints and 108 suo motu cases. During this period, it conducted 63 spot investigations, disposed of 38,063 cases and recommended over Rs 9 crore as monetary relief in 210 cases of human rights violations.
The NHRC also held two ‘open hearings and camp meetings’ in Odisha and Telangana, where the cases were settled on the spot and compensation was recommended.
The statement said these meetings helped in sensitizing senior state officials about timely submission of reports for prompt redressal along with promoting interaction with local NGOs, human rights defenders and media representatives.
–IANS
sd/