Expert group of NHRC meets to study impact of pandemic on Human Rights

The NHRC held a meeting via video conference of the expert group on "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Human Rights and future response." The expert committee is working to assess the impact of COVID -19 pandemic on human rights of people especially the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society.

New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held the second meeting of the expert group on "Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Human Rights and future response" via video conference. It was the third meeting of the group chaired by Surajit Dey, Registrar Law.

In July, NHRC constituted an 11 member expert committee to study the impact of COVID-19 on human rights.

The expert committee is working to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on human rights of people, especially the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society. It will also suggest the response on the basis of which commission can issue a necessary advisory to the central and state governments. The committee will also identify the practices in dealing with human rights situation in any part of the country or abroad.

This expert panel is studying the migrant crisis that occurred during the pandemic from a public health perspective and how it was addressed by various Indian states.

NHRC had issued notice to the government of Uttar Pradesh over reports of dead and injured migrant labours of Auraiya being carried in the same vehicle.

In another case, a notice was issued to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh government after a viral the video emerged where a migrant mother was seen pulling a suitcase with her child sleeping half hung. Notice to Maharashtra government was also issued after a migrant woman from Madhya Pradesh delivered the child on road.

In Aurangabad, rail accident where 16 migrant workers were mowed down by goods train, another notice was issued to Maharashtra govt.

As per sources, the commission is also seeking views of different ministries including Health and Family Welfare, Labour, Women and Child Development, Food and Public Distribution, Social Justice and empowerment, Agriculture and Tribal Affairs.

The discussions will continue further with different expert groups before the committee finalises its recommendations.