Human Rights

Prof. Richard Hay: When I start speaking about Human Rights, the first thing that comes to my mind is the pitiable state of health sector in India. It is a matter of shame that the majority of Indians do not have access to reliable health care services. Kerala may be an exemption to this sad state of affairs. Right to life is one of the basic human rights. I believe, access to reliable health care is therefore the right of every human being. Indian health care system is the most privatized system of the world. Govt. has been neglecting this vital sector which should normally ensure the proper upkeep of the health of every citizen in the country. Let me refer to the National Rural Health Mission Report. This crucial report, which has brought to light certain stark realities, reveals the lop-sided development of the health sector in India. It is a damning indictment of the health care system in our country which is a socialist, secular and democratic republic. It is evident that Govts. have failed miserably on this count. Public money is squandered and crucial sectors are neglected.
The report states that the majority of the Primary Health Centers are ill equipped and short staffed. 8% of the PHCs do not have even a single doctor. 17.7% of the PHCs do not have a pharmacist. 39% do not have lab technicians. Adding to the woes of the poor villagers in India there are no labor rooms and operation theatres in the majority of the PHCs. With such lapses on the part of the Govt.s, how can we expect the vast majority of our countrymen to be healthy and able bodied to contribute their mite for the growth of the GDP of the country? Due to lack of proper medical care, the productivity of Indian labor has become the lowest in the world. In such a deplorable and despicable situation what kind of human rights can be ensured to the common man of India?
It is evident from the media reports that the basic rights of the citizens are denied in our country mainly on the basis of religion, caste, gender and also economic depravity. Umpteen incidents have been reported in the media proving that atrocities inflicted upon the weak and oppressed in our country are mostly carried out by religious bigots, caste-ists, anti-women lobbies, and the like. In most cases, political parties are directly involved in these predominantly communal clashes. What is disturbing is that most of these are institutionalized oppressions, heavily financed by political parties. In all these cases women and children are the most vulnerable persons subjected to inhuman treatment by the powerful political parties and their outfits.
What is the remedy? In this regard, I wanted to collect information as to the stentorian role, if any, played by the parliament and state legislature in protecting human rights. I find that only on very few occasions have they deliberated on such burning issues. It seems that they were more vociferous and outspoken when they were taken to task by their political rivals or by some others on matters of violation of their own rights. Then it is found that they raise much hue and cry in these highest democratic institutions. The reason being, political parties are not much bothered about the violations of human rights of the common man. It is a known fact that a corrupt political system can never protect the human rights of their citizens. The major cause for never ending human rights violation is the existence of astronomical corruption in India. Political parties breed corruption. After sixty years of independence, whom can we blame for the perpetration of poverty and all other social evils in our great country? Everybody knows that corruption is the major factor that gas kept India poor and thereby made the common man miserable. The common man is treated like leeches and untouchables. If one checks upon, as an example, the quantum of money spent by the Govt. for the amelioration of the scheduled castes and tribes, a veritable truth will emerge. To substantiate this, may I quote Rajeev Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, who made the public statement, “if a rupee is spent by the Govt., only 15 paisa reaches the genuine beneficiary. “ This public statement pin points the veracity of facts relating to the corrupt practices of politicians and bureaucrats.
Another human rights violation that is taking place in the corridors of power is the sizable perks that the people’s representatives enjoy while they turn a blind eye to the developing needs of the poor country.
Let me take you back to the pristine Gandhian era. The Mahatma categorically stated that the congress party must be disbanded, as they by that time had perhaps proved that they were misfits to govern the country. What the Mahatma had feared has become the reality. It is their party which ruled India for a long time, and still continuing in power, that is responsible for the perpetration of poverty in our country. Other parties only followed suit. Who is bothered about the human rights of the poor and marginalized in India? There is almost an abrogation of human rights when it comes to the poor. The have-nots in India can be called by a little sophisticated term – ‘Vote Banks’, for which purpose they are exploited by the powers be, to cling on to power. Look at the undeniable facts – more than 50% of India’s population live in constant economic insecurity in the midst of plenty! Please have a look at the caricature of India’s common man in all media publications. He is week, feeble, thin and skinny, hungry-looking, and even haunted by economic insecurity, fear, and resentment. This appalling condition has warped his personality. He is denied of all social and human rights. They have been suffering agonies of discrimination for ages. If the importance of economic planning is relegated, within a short span of time, we fear, due to lack of food security, our whole economic infrastructure will collapse which would result in great human tragedies in the form of starvation, famine, homelessness, widespread diseases and many other calamities. Human rights protagonists will have to then consider still more burning issues – that of the very survival of the common man in our country. Will they then rise to the occasion? God only knows!
May I also touch upon the role of judiciary? Do the courts in India have efficient machinery to attend to human rights violations? Have a look at the statistics regarding the back-log of pending cases in the Indian judicial system. In 2006, 36.5 cases were pending in higher courts, while lower courts had a whopping 2.48 crores cases. The oft repeated words of caution that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ boomerangs across the corridors of Indian courts. It is the right of every Indian to see that justice is carried out without much delay. If the judiciary is not able to protect the rights of the citizenry on a time bound basis, who else can do it? Let me give you one more piece of information to prove how inefficient are we as a country. It takes 425 to 1165 days to enforce a contract in the Indian courts. Adding to our woes, it is reported in the media that even judges are corrupt, who are supposed to be the custodians of public justice and paragons of moral excellence and virtue. Recently I read an article in which a learned judge opined that even judges these days fall a prey to the consumerist craving. When the judiciary is also not able to attend to cases of human right violations on account of these reasons we are certainly deprived of any protection of human rights. Let me quote former Supreme Court Justice Santosh Hegde. “75% of human rights violations were due to corruption.” He said. He also stated that there are two types of citizens in our country. The first type becomes rich by dint of hard work done for 24 long years. The second type becomes rich within 24days by corrupt practices. In such a disastrous situation, how can the citizens expect justice in protecting human rights? The arrests of few swamis in Kerala shed more light on this matter of grave concern.
What kind of human rights do we enjoy in our own society? Take for instance our traffic system on our roads. Motorists have total disregard for traffic rules or basic courtesies. People spit in public places and behaves rudely to others. The police think that their first and foremost duty is to abuse and insult any citizen who he comes in contact. Public manners remain appalling. There is lack of democratic culture in India. Shoddy governance and poor infrastructure continue to retard the country’s prospects for faster economic development. Abrogation of human rights has become the order of the day.
Well, protection of human rights is the key for the development of a free, democratic and secular society. The Govts. and public authorities should be made more responsible to establish human rights in our country. The sooner, the better.