<p>The report submitted by the NHRC to the United Nations Human Rights Council said socio-economic indicators on human rights index continue to be deplorable in the country.<br /><br />Commenting on the much touted MNREGA scheme launched by the UPA I, the human rights watchdog remarked that the “scheme has not made enough of an impact” and those who got work under the scheme “got half the waged guaranteed”.<br /><br />“The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme guaranteed 100 days of work a year to any rural household that needed it. Government data showed that 56 million households applied, while 55 million were given work but on average received half the wages guaranteed. The scheme has not therefore made enough of an impact, very large sums of money have been siphoned off, and it does not provide long-term employment or build permanent assets,” the human rights panel said in its report.<br /><br />According to the NHRC report “over 90 per cent of the workforce is in the unorganised sector, has no access to social security….. driven into permanent debt, often leading to conditions of bonded labour.”<br /><br />PDS for the poor<br />Commenting on the overnment’s Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food to poor at cheaper rates, the report said the scheme has failed to deliver. “PDS has not assured the right to food because malnutrition is endemic,” it said. <br /><br />NHRC also lamented the government for spending on health, which it said “continues to be abysmally low, at about 1 per cent of GDP, despite government’s commitment to raise it to 2-3 per cent.”<br /><br />The report has also pointed out shortcomings in the comprehensive implementation of Indira Awas Yojana aimed at providing rural housing. The report is also critical of the ways in which issues related to human rights violations of the marginalised sections are addressed, especially by civil servants and other law enforcement agencies.<br /><br />“The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes remain particularly vulnerable despite laws to protect them, because of the indifference of public servants,” the report said.<br /><br />Review mechanism<br />NHRC prepared this report as part of review mechanism created by the UN General Assembly and is done once every four years to ensure universal coverage of human rights and fulfillment of related obligations. Similar report is submitted by other member countries as well.<br /></p>
<p>The report submitted by the NHRC to the United Nations Human Rights Council said socio-economic indicators on human rights index continue to be deplorable in the country.<br /><br />Commenting on the much touted MNREGA scheme launched by the UPA I, the human rights watchdog remarked that the “scheme has not made enough of an impact” and those who got work under the scheme “got half the waged guaranteed”.<br /><br />“The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme guaranteed 100 days of work a year to any rural household that needed it. Government data showed that 56 million households applied, while 55 million were given work but on average received half the wages guaranteed. The scheme has not therefore made enough of an impact, very large sums of money have been siphoned off, and it does not provide long-term employment or build permanent assets,” the human rights panel said in its report.<br /><br />According to the NHRC report “over 90 per cent of the workforce is in the unorganised sector, has no access to social security….. driven into permanent debt, often leading to conditions of bonded labour.”<br /><br />PDS for the poor<br />Commenting on the overnment’s Public Distribution System (PDS) which provides food to poor at cheaper rates, the report said the scheme has failed to deliver. “PDS has not assured the right to food because malnutrition is endemic,” it said. <br /><br />NHRC also lamented the government for spending on health, which it said “continues to be abysmally low, at about 1 per cent of GDP, despite government’s commitment to raise it to 2-3 per cent.”<br /><br />The report has also pointed out shortcomings in the comprehensive implementation of Indira Awas Yojana aimed at providing rural housing. The report is also critical of the ways in which issues related to human rights violations of the marginalised sections are addressed, especially by civil servants and other law enforcement agencies.<br /><br />“The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes remain particularly vulnerable despite laws to protect them, because of the indifference of public servants,” the report said.<br /><br />Review mechanism<br />NHRC prepared this report as part of review mechanism created by the UN General Assembly and is done once every four years to ensure universal coverage of human rights and fulfillment of related obligations. Similar report is submitted by other member countries as well.<br /></p>
