Bhubaneswar: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman and former chief justice HL Dattu Monday inaugurated a three-day open hearing camp here where he expressed concern over land acquisition for projects without adequate compensation.
Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural event at Soochana Bhawan, attended by NHRC members Justice D Murugesan and SC Sinha, Dattu said, ‘‘The state government has failed to address issues of health and education in remote areas, especially of Malkangiri district. The commission has information that 72 primary schools in Malkangiri have no infrastructure of their own.”
‘‘The commission notes with concern instances from within the state of acquisition of land for various development projects without adequate compensation or alternative livelihood support to those displaced from their land,’’ Justice Dattu said.
Expressing grave concern over women trafficking in Sundargarh district and starvation deaths in the KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) districts, Dattu said the commission has received several complaints about police assault on the protesters and media representatives in gross violation of Human Rights Act.
‘‘The commission has been deeply concerned about protection of rights of girls and women. In this context, we would like to know from the authorities about the initiatives taken, particularly with respect to human trafficking, if any, child marriage as well as efforts towards gender sensitisation among police personnel and other public functionaries,’’ he said. Referring to the number of complaints, Justice Dattu said the Commission has received 29,956 complaints from Orissa during 2015-16.
A NHRC official told this newspaper that bench I, bench II, and bench III were formed at the state guest house here where cases against SC/ST atrocities will be heard between January 9 and 11.
“On the first day of the camp, the commission chairman accepted 33 cases for hearing, Justice Murugesan 35 cases and commission member Sinha 39 cases,” he said.
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