Violation of human rights in Barak Valley
Silchar, Dec 10: “The cases of violation against women in Barak Valley have been increasing with each passing day, notwithstanding numerous laws and provisions to ensure their safety and security. Thus, awareness of women about the existing laws has now become the need of the hour,” said Rumi Dhar, lecturer in the department of Law, Assam University, while delivering her lecture on the topic ‘Domestic violence and harassment of women in their work places’ during a workshop on ‘Human rights situation in Barak Valley’ held in the auditorium of Madhyasahar Sanskritik Samiti here this evening.
Dhar said that majority of the women are not aware of their rights and privileges as a result of which they could not take advantage of the laws and provisions which are meant to protect them. She added that scores of laws have been enacted to safeguard the rights of the women, but cases of harassment against the “weaker sex” are still on the rise.
The workshop was organized by Barak Human Rights’ Protection Committee (BHRPC) on the occasion of International Human Rights Day in which a number of personalities of the valley delivered their lectures on different topics like status of human rights in the tea gardens, integrated child development project, MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), public distribution system, domestic violence and harassment of women at work places, child labour and his right to education and human rights violation by security forces and the Army.
Speaking on the status of public distribution system in the valley, Mrinal Kanti Shome, a social worker, said that the PDS has turned out to be a hotbed of corruption. Throwing light on the anomalies and irregularities in the PDS, Shome said that a section of people have siphoned off huge amount of funds allocated for the system.
He pointed out that it has been revealed in a recent survey that around 32,000 families in Barak Valley could not earn even two square meals a day. He said it was not beyond anyone’s comprehension how such deceit and fraud was going on. If the people’s representatives are indifferent, so are the officials concerned, he added. The role of panchayat also came in for criticism since it maintained discreet silence on many issues, even though it was in know of things.
Sujit Das, while talking on the status of tea gardens and its workers in the valley, said that in a majority of the villages, there is lack of school infrastructure, inadequate supply of water by PHE, no medical facilities and other basic needs of life. He pointed out that there were instances in Barak Valley where tea garden workers died of malnutrition.
Das further said that the wage of tea garden workers is also very minimal in the valley as they hardly received anything between Rs 50 to Rs 60 per day against their labour. But one-fourth of the State’s population belongs to the tea gardens, he opined.
Neharul Ahmed Mazumder, while speaking on the human rights violation by security forces, said there were many instances where the protectors have turned out to be the predators. He added that law enforcement agencies at times take advantage of the laws and violate human rights.
Neharul, who is also the secretary general of BHRPC, said not only the security forces, allegations of human right violations are also rife against the police forces.
“Police and security personnel are busy taking undue benefit of their uniform causing various atrocities. This valley is facing problems in law and order situation,” Neharul added.
He, however, said that it was because of the lack of awareness, there were innumerable cases of human rights violation by security forces in the valley such as non-registration of FIR in genuine cases, harassment and violence in the name of searches and raids, detention and arrest under false charges.
The rapid increase in cases of humiliation and torture by security personnel and police has become a matter of serious concern. “When those who are supposed to uphold the law are themselves involved in its violation, what faith can the common man have on justice?” Neharul questioned. source: http://www.sentinelassam.com
