NHRC at 25: Mary Kom, Vijay Kumar walk to promote human rights

Olympic medallists Mary Kom and Vijay Kumar Sunday participated in a walk organised here by the NHRC as curtains came down on the three-day silver jubilee celebrations of the human rights watchdog.

The event was flagged off by the boxer-shooter duo and chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Justice H L Dattu from the Nehru Park in central Delhi.

"Scores of people, including women and children, participated in the walk organised to build awareness on human rights and seek people's commitment to promote and protect them. Mary Kom and Vijay Kumar also took part in the walk," a senior official said.

The silver jubilee celebrations had kicked off Friday with the Foundation Day function at the Vigyan Bhawan here where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a gathering had said the government was committed to improve the lives of people by ensuring their rights.

A commemorative first day postal cover and stamp were released on the occasion, and a new version of the commission's website was also launched.

"The prime minister had also said that the NHRC should use social media effectively. We have all the resources to use it, but due to manpower constraints, it has not been able to take off.

"Besides, we are using the alternative media like theatre and exhibition to widen our outreach to people," the official said.

He said that besides promoting human rights, the NHRC is positioning itself more proactively to prevent incidents of human rights violations.

"So, through street plays, poster-making, slogan-writing contests, we seek to engage with various stakeholders and people in general, so that violation don't happen. Just taking cognisance and keeping a record of violations is not enough," the official said