Governor Bandaru Dattatraya said that no one could take away the rights of those people who possess truth, love and non-violence. The humanity was at the top and change could be possible in life by bringing improvement, he added.
The Governor was speaking on the occasion of Human Rights Day organized by the Department of Prisons and Corrective Services at Model Central Jail, Kanda near Shimla, today.
He said that human rights were the natural rights given to all human beings without any discrimination and every year 10th December was celebrated as Human Rights Day as United Nations General Assembly adopted the ‘Universal Human Rights Declaration’ in 1948 on this day.
He said that India has been conspicuous in its commitment to the preservation and protection of human rights globally and within the country. Our commitment to human rights was a part of our culture, and we have always respected the human rights of others since time immemorial, he added.
“Apart from being a signatory to these important human rights conventions, the constitution of our country has given a strong human rights protection framework including an independent judiciary, independent media and active civil society and several national human rights commissions”, said the Governor.
He said that poverty was perhaps the greatest disdain for human dignity and one of the major challenges in the path of shaping a true democratic India. He said that India has taken many steps to make the right to education a major principle of state policy. He said that democracy can develop effectively when people have knowledge of their rights and privileges and their duties and responsibilities.
The Governor also focussed on women empowerment and gender equality and expressed happiness that programmes like Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao were being run to face these challenges. He expressed satisfaction that the Prison Department has taken effective steps regarding the human rights of jail inmates and various vocational training programmes were being run for the inmates so that they could start self-employment after their release and find themselves to the mainstream of the society.
Earlier, the Governor offered prayers at the newly constructed temple in jail premises constructed by the jail inmates.
The Governor also distributed prizes to the inmates who participated in the painting and singing competition.
Director General of Prison & Correctional Services Somesh Goyal said that protection of human rights of the prisoners have been ensured in all Jails of the state. Their skills development was also being done so that they could engage themselves in work after being released from jail. The medical test laboratories would be set up in every jail from next year. He apprised that Rs 1.20 crore were given to the prisoners as wages last year. Apart from this, women prisoners were being provided training of handloom making, sewing and knitting.
Vice-Chancellor of National Law University Shimla Prof. Nishtha Jaswal said that not doing your work honestly and not following duties was also a violation of human rights. He also emphasized on the honourable and spiritual development of the detainees so that they can make themselves independent.
Deputy Director, Institute of Correctional Administration, Chandigarh Dr Upneet Lalli said that humanity was the biggest religion and it could not be violated. She said that humanity should be kept alive to create a civilized and safe society. Stressing on special attention to women rights in prisons, she said that attention should be given for their skill development.
Former Administrative Officer Shrinivas Joshi said that human rights were fundamental rights, which cannot be given to anyone else, it was your own. He gave detailed information about these rights. He praised the efforts being made by the Prisons Department towards human rights protection.
Senior journalist P.C. Lohmi said that we have seen humanity from the legal point of view only when it is a social issue and consciousness in society comes from rituals. He stressed the need to make people aware of the rights of citizens.
Cultural programmes were also presented by the inmates of Adarsh Central Correctional Home, Kanda on this occasion.
