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New Delhi, October 14 (IANS) Former President Ramnath Kovind will lead a discussion on human rights with a special focus on jail inmates while inaugurating the 32nd Foundation Day celebrations of the NHRC on October 16. An official gave this information on Tuesday. Kovind will deliver the inaugural address at the event organized in the presence of National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice V. Ramasubramaniam and members Justice (Dr.) Vidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharati Sayani and Priyank Kanungo. The Commission will also organize a one-day national conference on ‘Human Rights of Prison Prisoners’. Various issues related to human rights and welfare of prison inmates will be discussed in various sessions, the official said in a statement. NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal and other senior officials of the Commission will also attend the Foundation Day celebrations, using the occasion to reflect on the Commission’s journey and renew its commitment to protect and promote human rights. The official statement said that a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of concerned central ministries, state governments, diplomats, academicians, researchers, legal luminaries, eminent experts and members of civil society and human rights defenders will participate in these sessions. During the 32-year journey since its inception on October 12, 1993, NHRC has been advocating necessary policy reforms, people-centric governance and implementation and regular monitoring on the ground to ensure impartiality, transparency and accountability in law enforcement, investigation and welfare schemes/programmes. In the last 32 years, 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 Commission has so far issued 31 advisories. These inter alia include the protection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), rights of widows, rights of people involved in begging, right to food, right to health and mental health, rights of informal workers, maintaining the dignity of the dead, rights of truck drivers, environmental pollution and degradation, advice to ensure the welfare of transgender persons, advice to reduce deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts by prisoners and Includes advice for prevention. Prevent and reduce ocular trauma. The statement said NHRC promotes police accountability, prison reforms and protection of the rights of accused and victims through research, policy advocacy and public awareness. It continues to cooperate with central and state governments, parastatal organizations, educational institutions, NGOs and human rights defenders to protect and promote human rights of all sections of society, especially the most vulnerable. Some other important interventions made by the Commission over the last three decades include recommending amendments to 97 laws that discriminate against persons suffering from Hansen’s disease. Between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, the Commission handled 73,849 complaints and registered 108 suo motu cases. The Commission conducted inquiries on 63 occasions; The statement said 38,063 cases were disposed of and more than Rs 9 crore was recommended as economic relief in 210 cases to victims of human rights violations. These include cases disposed of on the spot and relief recommended in two ‘open hearings and camp meetings’ held in Odisha and Telangana respectively. The camp meetings served as a platform to sensitize senior officials of the State Government on the importance of timely submission of reports to the Commission to ensure prompt relief to the victims. They also facilitated interactions with local NGOs, human rights defenders and media personnel, the statement said. –IANS rch/dan