-PTI The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today sought a report from the Odisha government on destruction and burning of houses of Dalits in Bolangir district. The NHRC asked the government to submit the report within four weeks on a complaint alleging that 30 houses of Dalits were destroyed and burnt by some persons belonging to upper castes in Lathore village on January 22. The complainant had requested a high level...
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STARVATION DEATHS CONTINUE IN ODISHA: AHRC
The popular impression is that starvation deaths happen mainly because the information about potential victims fails to reach authorities. But can it amount to murder if a starvation death is caused despite adequate warning? A recent Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) report tells us a story of corruption and negligence leading to starvation and death in Odisha. Worse still is the fact that many more villagers await the same fate...
More »Food as people's right by MS Swaminathan
This is the season to count blessings. India's greatest blessings are its adherence to the democratic system of governance, an independent judiciary, a free and fearless media, and an Election Commission that inspires confidence. I hope that soon India will have an independent and effective Lokpal, which will pave the way for a corruption-free India, a pre-requisite for a hunger-free India. The other major paradigm shift observed in recent years is...
More »Why ‘force first' will not work by DN Sahaya
Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, in an article on left-wing extremism (“From Tirupati to Pashupati?” The Hindu , October 14, 2011), observed candidly: “It is not the naxals who have created the ground conditions ripe for their ideology — it is the singular failure of successive governments both in the States and the Centre.” There lay the main cause of the festering sore of naxalism, often characterised as left-wing...
More »HRC directs Orissa to report on 'man-made' flood, civil society for flood plain management by Nageshwar Patnaik
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Orissa government asking it to submit a detailed report on the alleged "man-made" floods in the last in August-September. The disaster had officially claimed over 80 lives and damaged houses and agricultural lands in 21 districts. The NHRC's direction came following petition filed by Bhubaneswar-based India Media Centre, a voluntary organisation. Water resources secretary, chief engineer of irrigation department and Hirakud...
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