NHRC committee to investigate impact of COVID-19 on human rights; focus on marginalised and vulnerable sections

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has constituted an 11-member expert committee to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on human rights; especially those of marginalised and vulnerable section of the society.  The committee, which also includes Public Health Foundation of India President Dr K S Reddy, and child rights activists Enakshi Ganguly will also suggest the response on the basis of which the Commission would necessary advisory to the Central Government and State Governments.

 

Other members in the expert committee are- Director, Institute of Behaviour and Allied Science (IHBAS) Dr. Nimesh G Desai; National Convener of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan-Dr. Abhay Shukla; Special Monitor (Police and Prison Reforms) NHRC- Maja Daruwala; Special Monitor (Rights to Person with Disabilities) NHRC- Rajive Raturi; Founder and Chairman of Agewell Foundation- Himanshu Rath; Director, SAMA: Resource Group for Women and Health- N B Sarojini; Right to Food Compaign- Dr. Dipa Sinha; Executive Director, Action Aid Association- Dr. Sandeep Chachra and Expert in Business and Human Rights- Viraf Mehta.      

 

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee will have virtual meetings as and when deemed necessary. According to the official order, the committee will also identify the best practices in dealing with the human rights situation in any part of the country or abroad. The formation of the expert committee comes in the backdrop of the NHRC’s cognizance of the plight of migrant workers during the lockdown period. 

 

In May, the commission had issued notice the Government of Maharashtra after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports about mowing down of 16 migrant workers by an empty goods train. The incident happened between Badnapur and Karmad stations in Nanded Division. Again on May 22, it had issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh after taking suo motu cognizance of media reports that the bodies of Auraiya road accident victims were being carried along with the injured migrant labourers in the same vehicle by the authorities. 


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