MODEL ANSWERS:
1. Elaborate on the role played by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in safeguarding and promoting human rights in India.
The NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) is a statutory body that came into being in 1993 with the enactment of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The mandate of the commission was to examine and investigate into the complaints with regards to the violations of human rights, on part of a public servant. The NHRC is also expected to take steps to prevent such violations from happening in the future. The NHRC was formed to conform with the Paris Principles which were adopted by many nations in October 1991, at the First International Workshop on National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
Main Body
Some of the ways in which the NHRC plays a significant role in safeguarding and promoting human rights in India are following:
The NHRC conducts enquires into violation of human rights or negligence on part of a public servant for prevention of such violation. The NHRC can either register a complaint or take up the matter sou motu, or can accept the petition on a direction of any court;
The NHRC also conducts inspections of prisons by undertaking visits of the prisons or any other institution which is used by the state to detain people;
The NHRC has to undertake a periodic review of all the constitutional and legal safeguards provided to the citizens of India, for the protection of human rights
The NHRC also undertakes research and studies on various treaties and other international instruments related to human rights and make recommendations accordingly.
NHRC has been given the mandate to spread human rights literacy in the society, to include all sections of population and promote awareness regarding the safeguards available with the help of media, seminars, various publications, etc.
However, NHRC has been criticized for not being able to enforce changes. Some of these criticisms include:
Former Solicitor General, Soli Sorabjee famously termed the NHRC as ‘India’s teasing illusion’, highlighting the lack of any practical powers that the body has to provide relief.
The NHRC lacks any dedicated mechanism of investigation, as a result of which, it is dependent on the Central and State Governments to investigate the cases in case of complaints.
NHRC has not been given any powers to enforce their recommendations, these are only advisory in nature.
NHRC’s powers are greatly curtailed since it is not empowered to take up any complaints which are about an incident older than one year.
Suggestions to make the NHRC more effective:
Making the decisions of the NHRC enforceable and not merely advisory.
NHRC should be given its own independent cadre of staff with enough experience to handle human rights violations.
Giving contempt powers to the NHRC would also empower it to compel authorities to implement the recommendations.
Conclusion
If given complete powers to work independently and effectively, the National Human Rights Commission can play a quintessential role in improving the policy initiatives in India.
2. Like all other disasters, the Covid-19 pandemic had a much greater impact on women as compared to men, further inflating the gender gap. Elaborate.
The impact of Covid-19 pandemic has been much more than just the death toll and shrinking economy. In fact, there have been significant social and political implications of the pandemic as well. In all these spheres, women have been impacted more as compared to men, across the world.
Main Body
Women lost their jobs: Unemployment numbers show that the far more women have lost their jobs as compared to men. Before the pandemic began, women in India contributed only 24% of the workforce and yet, 28% of people who got laid off were women.
Food Insecurity: Studies show that a loss in income for women along with reducing income of the households have resulted in disruptions in the food supply.
Reproductive Health: One of the other neglected outcomes of the pandemic was the ignorance of women health issues, mainly due to the unaffordability of contraception and menstrual products. Studies suggest that close to 16% of women in India had to opt for other alternatives for menstrual pads since they became unaffordable.
Unpaid Labour: Even prior to the pandemic, the Indian women were performing 3-times more unpaid work as compared to the Indian men. As per the reports, this gap has increased even further post the pandemic.
Marginalised Groups more affected: Women hailing from marginalised groups such as the minority community and widows were more affected.
Suggested way Forward
Expansion of the PDS: The PDS or Public Distribution System, if used effectively, can help solve this issue by reaching the affected sections of the society much more efficiently.
Universal benefits from Schemes: Strengthening the various SHGs active across the country will allow them to help in economic recovery.
Inclusive Approach: The government must take affirmative actions while focussing on single or separated women in several government initiatives for jobs and food security.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need for gender budgeting and gender based social welfare schemes which in turn will neutralize the ill effects of Covid 19 pandemic on women across the country.
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