State HRC files highest suo motu cases in country

Commission has received 33,064 cases, of which, 22,012 have been settled

State Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice S R Nayak said that the state has received as many as 33,064 petitions regarding violation of human rights from October 2007 to March 31, 2012. As many as 22,012 petitions have already been disposed.

Speaking to the media persons he said that of the total petitions received, about 6,065 are filed suo motu by the Commission, which accounts to largest number of suo motu cases ever filed by any Human Rights Commission in the country.

He said the Commission has received about 579 cases in Udupi district, of which 363 have been disposed from October 2007 to March 31, 2012. In Dakshina Kannada district the Commission has received about 1,588 petitions of which 952 cases have been solved.

Drinking water

Nayak inquired about drinking water facilities in the district with ZP CEO Prabhakar Sharma and CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak. The CEO said that ZP has elaborate plans to implement permanent drinking water plans in the district.

A sum of Rs 34 crores has been allotted for the purpose in the year 2011-12 while another Rs 17 crores has been invested to take up multi-village drinking water project at Hebri and Nitte villages of Karkala Taluk. He said there is no acute drinking water problem in the district. It is manageable. Water is provided through tankers to the areas wherever it is needed, he added.

CMC Commissioner said that the residents in the city received 24 hours water supply till May 14. However, owing to scanty rainfall in the district during last year, the river catchments areas from where water is provided to the city have dried up. He said that arrangements have been made to provide water alternate day.

Expressing his displeasure over the lack of bus facilities to DC Office even after six months, the SHRC President stressed on the need for more buses to ply from Udupi to DC Office. He said the district administration should not succumb tothe private bus owners’ lobby. He suggested to introduce KSRTC buses on the said routes.

Thermal plant

Former Yellur Gram Panchayat President Shashidhar Shetty in his petition against coal based Udupi Power Corporation Limited thermal project said that the people of ten Gram Panchayats in the surrounding areas are in misery.

They are deprived of pure drinking water as all wells in the area have been contaminated due to the effluents discharged by the company. He said unscientific functioning of the plant has created health problems for people in the area.

Breathing problems, skin diseases, asthama are commonly observed among people, he added.
Nayak promised to hold discussion with DC Dr M T Reju and direct him to visit the spot within a week.

SHRC President also directed district administration to take immediate action against UPCL company, which has failed to provide compensation to as many as 302 fishing families  in Padubidri and Yermal who have lost their livelihood owing to the hot water discharge through pipelines to the sea by the company. The victims had complained that UPCL has not paid any compensation even after assessment from the district administration. The fish catch has come down drastically in the area, they grieved.

RTE Act

SHRC President said that it is Constitutional obligation on all to provide educational facilities to the children aged six to 14. He said the Right to Education Act has made education compulsory.

The district Administration should see to it that no child is deprived of this fundamental right
“Last time when I had visited Udupi, I was told that only nine children are outside the purview of compulsory education,” he said and added children from slum who go to work along with their parents should be brought back to the portals of schools.

It should be joint effort of District Commissioner, Social Welfare Officer, DDPI and Labour Inspector, he said while reacting to the petition given by Gururaj Ameen from Malpe demanding educational facilities for the children of fishermen who come from other places for work.