Karnataka - Hassan   

Government must shape up: Nayak

S.R. Nayak

HASSAN: Chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission S.R. Nayak has described the recent floods as “man-made misery” and said the commission had the power to monitor the Government’s response (or the lack of it) to its after-effects. He said the victims now really needed food, clothing, drinking water and a roof over their heads.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Saturday, he said it was the duty of the State Government to go to the people and help them as they were facing trying times.

Mr. Nayak said that for the past 15 days, government work had come to a standstill. The commission had every right to seek explanations on the sufferings of the people. All MLAs, MPs and officers should work together and rehabilitate the flood-affected people. This delay in providing them with basic amenities was in itself a clear violation of human rights. The Government stands accountable for every action of its.

Mr. Nayak had just one message for the BJP leaders: “Your internal squabbles, differences and disputes are no justification for the delay in rehabilitating the people. Even now it is not late. Despite all your problems, you have a duty by the people, and you cannot fail in that”. Referring to his remarks on the training the Ministers underwent in Suttur Math in Mysore, when the floods had hit northern Karnataka, he said everybody was, in reality a learner, and that there was nothing wrong in being trained at the math. Only, the timing of the programme was not appropriate.

The chairman said the need of the hour was proper education for the flood victims’ children, apart from basic amenities.

He also said no changes had been witnessed in the way the police was functioning. Custodial deaths continued unabated. Overcrowding of prisons too was continuing. The Bangalore Parappana Agrahara Jail that had a capacity of 5,000 prisoners now housed 8,000. “There is a strong need for space as well as jail staff. We seem to have money for everything under the sun expect infrastructure,” he added.

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