Kerala has better human rights indices: NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) received fewer complaints from Kerala as it had better human rights indices compared to many other states, its chairperson Justice (Retd.) K.G. Balakrishnan has said.

He was speaking on Wednesday while inaugurating a three-day 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' here on human rights violation issues in Kerala.

"The NHRC received less number of complaints from Kerala as it had better human rights indices compared to many other states because of high literacy rates, health care and other facilities," said Balakrishnan, a former chief justice of India who also hails from the state.

"But there were still some problems like the issue of endosulphan spraying and its impact on health, which needed to be looked into," he added.

He said the NHRC has been trying to reach out to people in various parts of the country through its 'Open Hearings' of complaints about atrocities.

"Such hearings along with the disposal of some cases at the 'Camp Sittings' have helped in sensitising the government machinery and civil society towards human rights issues.

"But with the work related to the disposal of so many complaints received each year, it is not possible for them to go outstation and organise such programmes very frequently," he said.

Welcoming this mode of redressal, Nalini Netto, additional chief secretary of Kerala, hoped that the NHRC's 'Open Hearing' and 'Camp Sitting' would prove to be a major step towards proactive good governance.

A.K.Garg, registrar (law), NHRC, said if the government complied with their recommendations, the people would benefit. "Without the cooperation of the state governments, the endeavours of the NHRC towards helping them in good governance cannot be successful."

Balakrishnan and his team would wind up the three-day sitting on Friday.