New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission is celebrating its 29th Foundation Day on Wednesday. India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was present during the event. Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Dhankar said that India has never believed in expansion and it involves a violation of human rights.
“India, as a nation, never believed in expansion; never done so: Vice President Dhankhar at NHRC Foundation Day speech”, Dhankar said. He also said that any expansion, particularly of geographical boundaries, involves a violation of human rights to an extreme degree.
During the event, NHRC chairperson Justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra said that though India has many socio-economic welfare schemes, reservation was still needed to ensure upliftment. Mishra also said that "fruits of reservation have not percolated to the bottom", as reported by the news agency PTI.
In his address at the National Human Rights Commission Foundation Day, Mishra also pressed for urgent jail reforms.
"Several measures have been taken for socio-economic and political upliftment of the marginalised sections of the society. More affirmative action is needed. The time has come to clarify that unrepresented classes in services are provided reservation within the reserved category itself to ensure overall development because fruits of reservation have not percolated to the bottom," he said.
Though India has many socio-economic welfare schemes, "reservation is still needed for upliftment," the NHRC chief said. Mishra also flagged many other human rights-related issues and emphasised that gender equality and equality for all were important.
Earlier on Tuesday, the NHRC issued an advisory to the Centre and various states to prevent and minimise the impact of ocular trauma and ensure appropriate standardised treatment and rehabilitation of its victims, PTI reported citing officials.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has made several recommendations too, including the establishment of a special fund to provide financial assistance to the victims of ocular trauma, it said in a statement.
(With Inputs from PTI)