NHRC hopes Odisha will implement its recommendations

Bhubaneswar, Feb 5:

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairman K.G. Balakrishnan Thursday said there is a delay in implementation of some of its recommendations, including granting compensation to people in Odisha.

Balakrishnan, however, said that majority of its recommendations had been complied in the state.

“We have been getting reports that some of the recommendations are still in the process of getting implemented. Sometimes there may be a delay in granting compensation due to administrative problems,” Balakrishnan told reporters at the sideline of a seminar here.

The NHRC chairman hoped that all the recommendations will be implemented. He said the commission is getting complaints related to human rights violations in Odisha, especially from people who were displaced, and Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput (KBK) region.

“We have received reports over compensation problem in Posco, Tata projects and some other projects. We have directed to give reasonable compensation against acquisition of land in the region,” said the NHRC chairman.

The former chief justice of India also reiterated his stand over article 377, stating the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community should be protected.

“The NHRC has issued a statement that rights of transgender should be protected. We stand by that. We stand for people whose rights are violated,” said Balakrishnan.

Speaking in the seminar ‘Judiciary, democracy and tradition: An Evaluation with special reference to human rights’, he said democracy is an illusion if people’s rights are not protected. (IANS)