Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) Chairperson Meera C Saksena stressed on the need to include human rights education in school curriculum, here on Friday.
Speaking after inaugurating a two-day international conference on 'Human Rights Education for Social Work Practice' at School of Social Work in Roshni Nilaya, she said the commission has been speaking to the Education Department from the last two years about the inclusion of human rights in school curriculum and the department has agreed in principle. A committee has been constituted in this regard and steps will be taken to introduce human rights education in schools soon, she added.
She said education on human rights in essential to create awareness among children as to what constitutes human rights and what amounts to human rights violation.
Meera Saxena said the commission has received 54,000 applications from public over a period of last nine years and 39,000 cases have been disposed of so far. The commission does not entertain civil, family, labour and civil servants, as there are separate courts and tribunals to deal with their issues. KSHRC is not a substitute for a court. The objective of the commission is to ensure a life of dignity to the people, she added.
Stating that the violation of human rights occur due to lack of sensitivity, she regretted about the Gollarahatti incident where lactating mothers are kept outside the houses for being ‘impure’. Also, there are problems of child marriage, child abuse, trafficking of women and children and so on. Differently abled persons and elders are abandoned by their relatives, she said.
Meera Saxena said, “Autism was not fully understood by the Department of Education till the State Human Rights Commission maintained that the problem is on par with other disabilities. The autistic children were granted extra time in examinations later.”
She said sexual minorities are looked down upon by people and authorities, including police, she said and observed that the Police Department should develop sensitivity towards them.
Many people are terrified of filing complaints in the police station, she said.
The KSHRC chairperson also stressed on the need to take care so that the rights of others are not infringed on the pretext of claiming one’s freedom of expression.People can register their complaints through email or toll free number 180042523333, she added.
IGP and Mangaluru City Commissioner of Police M Chandra Sekhar said police personnel should avoid following extra legal methods. There is always a pressure on the Police Department to deliver immediate results, he lamented.
School of Social Work (Roshni Nilaya) Director Dr Philomena D’Souza presided over the programme.
Senior Advocate Pramila Nesargi, Conference Co-Secretary Shylaja Santhosh and School of Social Work PG Department Dean Dr Rameela Shekhar were present on the occasion.