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NHRC bats for using PDS to help the drought affected

Press Trust of India | New Delhi April 28, 2016

With many states reeling under drought, National Human Rights Commission

chairperson H L Dattu today batted for bringing the affected people under the

targeted public distribution system to ensure food for all.

Dattu said there was no dearth of policies and programmes for ensuring food

for all, but the focus now should be on their effective implementation,

especially for proper stocking and distribution and avoiding wastage, which

remain areas of concern.

He referred to government reports as per which 254 districts in ten states were

reeling under drought and a quarter of population was severely affected.

"How can we extend the services of providing foodgrains under TPDS to a large

section of society reeling under the effect of drought, as a short term and long

term strategy, also needs to be made part of the discussion with reference to

Right to Food and National Food Security Act," he said at the Conference on

Right to Food organised by the Commission.

"The ultimate goal of National Food Security Act, integrated with various social

welfare schemes, should be that nobody should fall prey to begging for food,"

He also stressed on analysing impact of steps like transferring direct subsidy

and urged all sections of society to become a "watchdog" and work towards

ensuring that programmes are implemented in right earnest instead of falling

prey to the "allurements of pilferage".

"It is not only for the governments but for all sections of society to work

towards ensuring that the programmes and schemes towards ensuring food for

all are implemented in right earnest so that nobody sleeps without food.

"The people themselves need to become watchdog of the welfare schemes

instead of falling prey to the allurements of pilferage. They must stop thinking

about the government as a separate entity from them," Dattu said.

He said that the criticism of the government,particularly on food security front,

cannot take away the responsibility on the part of the every citizen of the

country.

Mentioning several programmes such as the 'Antodaya Anna Yojna' (AAY),

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and many others, Dattu said,

"There is no dearth of policy and programmes. The question can be raised only

about their effective implementation."

Noting that there was improvement in food grain production, Dattu said that

its stocking and distribution among the needy continues to remain a point of

concern.

"It pains to know that 15 per cent of food worth Rs 92 thousand crore per year

is wasted during production, harvesting, transportation and storage, as per a

study by Union Ministry of Food and Processing Industries," he said.

"It needs to be discussed as to what extent the efforts

to check the leakages in the TPDS have been effective as well as the impact of

efforts like transferring direct subsidy," Dattu said.

"Issues such as shortage of storage facilities, the issue like location of PDS

shops need to be looked into. If the centres for distribution of food grain under

TPDS are located at long distance, it becomes difficult for people to approach

them.

Dattu said that the Food Security needs to be studied as per agricultural

practices and the challenges facing them in the wake of falling ground water

levels at a rapid speed which was causing an alarming situation of drought in

several districts of the country.

Referring to government reports as per which 254 districts in ten states reeling

under drought and a quarter of population set to be severely affected, Dattu

said that there was a need for discussion on how the services of providing food

grain under TPDS can be extended to a large section of society reeling under

the effect of drought with reference to Right to Food and NFSA.

"Failed monsoon is severally affecting our agriculture which is heavily

dependent on the vagaries of the weather. The issue of crop rotation to

conserve our soil and water levels as well as our food requirements needs to be

addressed with a missionary zeal," he said the Conference on Right to Food

organised by the Commission

"The ultimate goal of National Food Security Act, integrated with various social

welfare schemes, should be that nobody should fall prey to begging for food,"

he emphasised.

Food Grains Availability to the Needy a Point of Concern: NHRC Chief

IANS, Modified: April 29, 2016 11:34 IST

Indicating the urgent need of strengthening the country's food policies,

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice (retired) H.L. Dattu on

Thursday said there was an improvement in the food grain production but

making it available to the needy remains a point of concern.

Justice Dattu, former Chief Justice of India, stressed it was painful to know

that 15 percent of food worth Rs.92,000 crore per year is wasted during

production, harvesting, transportation and storage.

"Food security has to be read and studied with agricultural practices and

the challengesfacing them in the wake of falling ground water levels at a rapid

speed is causing an alarming situation of drought in several districts," said

Justice Dattu.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the national conference on Right To

Food organised by the National Human Rights Commission.

The conference aimed to make a state-wise assessment of the action taken on

the National Food Security Act, 2013. Special reference was to adequate

quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people and the functioning of the

targeted public distribution system for the priority households and under the

Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY).

Justice Dattu said it was always useful and pragmatic to hold comprehensive

discussions on regular intervals with all the stake holders to evaluate the

progress and impediments towards ensuring food and nutritional security to

the people of the country.

The Right to Food and its variations is a human right protecting the right of

people to feed themselves in dignity, implying that sufficient food is available,

that people have the means to access it, and that it adequately meets the

individual's dietary needs.

The former justice, who took over as the NHRC chairperson a month ago, urged

the government to expand the scope of discussions on various aspects of the

National Food Security Act, 2013.

"There are several food schemes such as the Antodaya Yojna, Integrated Child

Development Services (ICDS), mid-day meal scheme and many others. There

has been no dearth in the number of policies and programmes in food issues.

However, the question can be raised on the effectiveness of the programmes,"

said Justice Dattu.

He said the Supreme Court emphasised on the appointment of commissioners

and other officials to look after the food issues in the country, which has

improved the situation and proper implementation of the rights to food in many

of the states.

"The Supreme Court issued a series of interim orders recognising the

constitutional Right to Food as flowing from the right to life and providing

directives on proper implementation of various programmes like the ICDS and

PDS. The apex court also ordered the creation of a new accountability

mechanism, like commissioners for monitoring and reporting on compliance

with court orders," Justice Dattu said.

The event was attended by representatives of all the state human rights

commissions.

NHRC: States must evolve common norms for implementing

National Food Security Act

30 April, 2016

The two-day National Conference on Right to Food, organised by the National

Human Rights Commission (NHRC), concluded in New Delhi last evening, with

several important suggestions and recommendations to ensure food security to

the people.

Mr. Justice HL Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC, while delivering his concluding

remarks, said that there is a need for the convergence of brilliant ideas and

programmes, being put to use by different State Governments, into 'one

mission' with 'one approach' deleting any dichotomies in the implementation of

the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) across the country.

Justice Dattu said that it is not understandable why the country cannot have a

common Standard Operating Procedure on the matters of governance,

especially, in the implementation of the programmes like NFSA. A common

programme of implementation mechanism will go a long way in ultimately

ensuring portability of food for all in the country, which should be the primary

goal.

He said that the NFSA has to be an inclusive provision of law, in terms of

providing its benefit to the poor migrant labourers also, who may not have

documents to support their claim under the Targeted Public Distribution

System (TPDS) of their place of migration.

The NHRC Chairperson also said that the civil society and NGOs, already doing

constructive work, should also devote themselves to building awareness about

Government schemes in not only the rural and tribal areas but also in the

urban areas. He also appealed to all the people that they should also come

forward in sharing this responsibility of the State. They should ensure that

excess food is not wasted and is given to the needy.

The participants included, among others, NHRC Members, Mr. Justice Cyriac

Joseph, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan and Mr. S.C. Sinha, senior officers of the

NHRC and SHRCs, senior officers of Center and State Governments, domain

experts, representatives of civil society and NGOs.

The Commission will further deliberate upon the suggestions for improving the

food security mechanism in the country and send its final recommendations to

the Government.

11 children die in Rajasthan, NHRC issues notices to state government

Apr 29, 2016, 06.45 PM IST

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that 11 children with special needs, living in a state-run Rehabilitation Home in Jaipur, Rajasthan, have died in mysterious circumstances within a period of the last 12 days. The Commission has observed that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation of the victim children. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretary, director general of police and director general, health services, government of Rajasthan calling for reports within two weeks.

Allegations of government's failure in maintaining the upkeep of the Home have

also been reported as the reason behind the incident. Reportedly, the children

were referred to JK Lone and SMS Hospitals when their condition deteriorated,

probably after drinking contaminated water at the Home.

Rajasthan suspends 6 officials over government facility deaths

IANS | Jaipur April 30, 2016 Last Updated at 22:12 IST

The Rajasthan government on Saturday suspended six people and placed one

official under awaiting posting orders over the death of 11 people in a

government-run residential facility for the mentally challenged near here.

The decision came as Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje held a

meeting with Social Welfare Minister Arun Chaturvedi, Medical and Health

Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore and Chief Secretary C.S. Rajan and other

officials over the deaths that included nine children.

The deaths occurred between April 16 and 27 in Jamdoli area near here.

"Director of directorate of specially-able persons has been placed under

awaiting posting orders while six other officials including superintendent of the

government facility and caretaker have been suspended," the state government

said in a statement.

Stating that the deaths of children was a very serious and shocking incident,

the chief minister accepted the carelessness of the officers in the case.

"Whoever is responsible for this incident, sitting at whatever high position, will

face strict action," she said.

Meanwhile, one more child was admitted on Saturday in the government-run

hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) ward.

With this, nine people have been admitted in the government-run Sawai Man

Singh and JK Lone hospitals, including four in critical condition.

The opposition Congress party has demanded an inquiry by a retired high

court judge into the incident.

"Innocent children lost their lives because of gross negligence by state

government officials. Vasundhara Raje government is now trying to sweep

under the carpet the complete case," Rameshwar Dudi, leader of opposition in

the state assembly and senior Congress leader, said.

"We want an inquiry by a retired judge," said Dudi.

Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, spokesperson of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress

Committee, has asked the chief minister to sack Social Welfare Minister

Chaturvedi.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued notice to the

Rajasthan government on the deaths.

The Rajasthan government on Friday had announced setting up of a high-level

committee to probe the deaths, including of nine children, in a government-run

residential facility for the mentally challenged.

"We have formed a high-level committee to investigate the deaths and the panel

is expected to give its report in 15 days," Chaturvedi said on Friday.

Chaturvedi said it seemed the deaths occurred due to some bacterial infection.

The cause of bacterial infection has to be ascertained... why it happened and

how it happened?

Doctors at the JK Lone Hospital are of the opinion the bacterial infection

seemed to have been caused by either food or water.

Samples of drinking water have been collected and sent for testing. "We are

awaiting the report," the minister said.

11 differently abled children from govt-run home die in

Jaipur

Updated: Apr 30, 2016 10:12 IST

Eleven children in a government-run institution for the mentally challenged in

Jaipur have died of infection in the past 10 days, triggering allegations of

negligence and food contamination.

The government constituted a three-member committee to investigate the

deaths of the children aged between six and 15, most of whom were orphans.

Eight children are still in hospital and three are critical.

“Prima facie, the cause of death is not contaminated food or water but gut

infection,” said Arun Chaturvedi, social justice and empowerment minister. The

department will cremate all the deceased, he added.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a notice to the state

government, asking for a report in two weeks and said the alleged negligence in

upkeep of the institution amounted to a human rights violation.

The Jamdoli government home, 10 kilometres outside Jaipur, houses around

200 children, 10-15 of whom share a room. Experts suspect the infection was

triggered by a contamination of food or water and quickly spread due to the

crowding.

“Today water tanks were cleaned and chlorination done. Two doctors have been

deployed at home round the clock to keep a watch on the health of the

children,” said Narottam Sharma, chief medical and health officer, Jaipur.

The inquiry committee, headed by the department’s principal secretary

Sudarshan Sethi and comprising medical college professor and Jaipur chief

medical and health officer, will submit its report in 15 days, the minister said.

Blood, urine and water sample were taken for investigation. The post-mortem

report is awaited yet and strict action will be taken against anyone found

responsible, Chaturvedi said.

Children began arriving in hospital on April 16 with diarrhoea, vomiting and

showed signs of septicemia and septic shock.

Medical superintendent Dr Ashok Gupta told HT 15 children between 6 and 15

were brought to the hospital last Thursday. One child died that day and the

rest succumbed to the infection later.

On the directions of Sawai Man Singh medical college principal Dr US Agarwal,

a team of doctors and paramedical staff gave necessary medicines to the

children at the home last Sunday.

Gupta said the deceased children include four males and three females. The

problem started in stomach either due to contaminated food or water, he

added.

NHRC to the Chief Secretary, the DGP and the DG of health services in the state.

Fri, 29 Apr 2016-11:19pm , PTI

NHRC on Friday served notices to the Rajasthan government, asking it to

submit a report within two weeks over the death of 11 people with special

needs,including eight children, in the state due to suspected bacterial infection

after allegedly drinking contaminated water. "The contents of the press reports

(on the matter), if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation of the

victim children," the Commission said.

The human rights body served notices to the Chief Secretary, the DGP and the DG of health services in the state and directed them to submit reports within two weeks.

Twenty-seven residents of a government-run facility in Jamdoli near Jaipur had been admitted to SMS Hospital and J K Lone hospital here. Eleven of them died between April 16 and 27. Eight persons were discharged while the others are still undergoing treatment.

11 CHILDREN DEAD IN STATE-RUN REHABILITATION HOME,

NHRC ISSUES NOTICE

SATURDAY, 30 APRIL 2016 10:22.

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Rajasthan government over the death of 11 children, living in state-run rehabilitation home, under mysterious circumstances within a period of the last 12 days, a statement said on Friday.

Taking a sou motu cognizance of the entire issue through media reports, the Commission has said that the issue is a human rights violation of the victims. "Accordingly, the Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary, director general of police and director general, health services, government of Rajasthan calling for reports within two weeks," said a NHRC statement.

The Commission has said that the allegations of the government's failure in upkeep of the home have also been reported as the reason behind the incident.

Meanwhile, superintendent of the government-run home, where 11 people with special needs including eight children died, was removed by Rajasthan government. Superintendent Anita Muwal was removed and put under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) status to ensure a fair inquiry in the matter by a committee of three members, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi said. A fact-finding committee, chaired by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi, will submit its report on the incident in 15 days, he added.

It may be recalled that eleven people with special needs, including eight children, staying at a government-run home near here have died due to suspected bacterial infection after allegedly drinking contaminated water. With the opposition hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the deaths, the Vasundhara Raje dispensation appointed a three-member committee to probe the matter.

Twenty-seven residents of the government facility in Jamdoli near here had been admitted to SMS Hospital and J K Lone hospital here. Eleven of them died

between April 16 and 27. Eight persons were discharged while the others are still undergoing treatment. Though post-mortem report is still awaited, doctors are of the opinion that they died due to suspected bacterial infection, Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi told reporters.

He said the three-member committee headed by Principal Secretary Sudarshan Sethi would submit its report in 15 days. The minister said that after receiving complaints over hygiene in the facility, a team from SMS Hospital had visited it on April 23. After receiving complaint, a team from SMS hospital visited the hostel on April 23 and gave necessary directions to the staff. The minister also ruled out possibility of food contamination initially and said the matter was being probed. Reasons of the deaths would be clear in post-mortem report, he said. Superintendent of J K Lone Hospital, Dr Ashok Gupta said the children who were admitted to that hospital were suffering from septic shock -- complication of infection where toxins can initiate a full body inflammatory response-- and high blood pressure.

NHRC seeks explanation from Rajasthan government for children death

30 April, 2016

Jaipur, Apr 30 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Rajasthan government regarding the death of 11 children, including seven differently-abled children in a government-run home near Jaipur, according to media reports.

It has been alleged that the children died after drinking contaminated water or food. The Superintendent of J K Lone Hospital, where the children were taken to, said that the children were brought to the hospital after they complained of diarrhoea and vomiting, media reported. They showed signs of septic shock and septicaemia. Rajasthan Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi said the cause of the death was yet to be ascertained and preliminary reports show it was some kind of an infection. He said that the blood samples have been sent for tests. NHRC has asked the government to reply in two weeks.