Sep 04 2014 : The Economic Times (Delhi)
Human Rights Body to Sharpen its Focus on India Inc
Gangadhar Patil
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New Delhi:
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Preparing to grapple with issues such as displacement, unhealthy environment & violation of labour laws
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is preparing to grapple with issues such as displacement, unhealthy environment and violation of labour laws by businesses as it seeks to sharpen its focus amid rapid industrialisation and increased economic activity .Besides, the commission plans to critically examine government policies framed for promoting business to ensure that these are not in conflict with human rights. This will be among its major focus areas in the next five years, when it is likely to conduct studies and send its suggestions to various government agencies. “Human rights violations due to business would be our prime focus in the coming years and the commission has already started studying the subject,“ said Rajesh Kishore, secretary general of NHRC. The commission has recently conducted a series of consultations with the industry representatives in this regard, he added.
Protests over major nuclear, steel, power and other projects in various parts of the country drove the commission to alter its approach, officials said, adding that the NHRC had been receiving several complaints alleging that industries had created environmental problems, violated labour laws and displaced people.
The commission has traditionally acted on a case-by-case basis without a broad framework for dealing with business-related human rights violations. Now it will examine the impact of government policies on public health, business practices, industrial processes and products, according to a report titled `NHRC India on Business and Human Rights' submitted to the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions, an international association of national human rights institutions across the world.
“NHRC would emphasis on state's duty to protect and ensure that those who are victimised have access to remedies,“ the report adds. NHRC receives many complaints every year which show government officials often fail in their duty to protect people's rights.
Protests over major nuclear, steel, power and other projects in various parts of the country drove the commission to alter its approach, officials said, adding that the NHRC had been receiving several complaints alleging that industries had created environmental problems, violated labour laws and displaced people.
The commission has traditionally acted on a case-by-case basis without a broad framework for dealing with business-related human rights violations. Now it will examine the impact of government policies on public health, business practices, industrial processes and products, according to a report titled `NHRC India on Business and Human Rights' submitted to the International Coordinating Committee for National Human Rights Institutions, an international association of national human rights institutions across the world.
“NHRC would emphasis on state's duty to protect and ensure that those who are victimised have access to remedies,“ the report adds. NHRC receives many complaints every year which show government officials often fail in their duty to protect people's rights.
