NHRC issues notice to MP govt

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued notices to Madhya Pradesh government following reports of a dalit woman sarpanch being denied the right to hoist the national flag.
"The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a dalit woman sarpanch is being deprived of the honour of hoisting the national flag on the Independence Day and the Republic Day at her village Puravas Kalan in District Morena, Madhya Pradesh for the past four years.
"Instead, a former sarpanch, who belongs to an upper caste, hoists the flag. Even if she attended the programme, she was not offered a chair," said an NHRC statement.

Reportedly, the husband of the woman sarpanch had lodged a complaint before the Commissioner of Chambal Division.
She also staged a dharna in Bhopal alleging that administration was supporting the upper caste lobby which not only deprived her right to hoist the National Flag but also stalled the opening of a middle school in Harijan basti of the village, the Commission said.
"The contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of dalit woman," observed the Commission.
Notices have been issued to the Divisional Commissioner, Chambal and District Magistrate, Morena in Madhya Pradesh and detailed reports have been sought within two weeks.