Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) P. Shanta Sinha has called upon youth to engage with the system and strive to achieve the rights of the deprived sections instead of branding the system ‘corrupt' and taking to violence.
Participating as chief guest at the inaugural of a three-day national seminar on “Containing violence: measures for resolution” at GITAM University here on Saturday, she said the strength of dialogue and discussion could be understood only when conflict was identified. There was no use branding the officials as corrupt and doing nothing.
Ms. Sinha said that nowhere in the world had violence resolved any issue. Those indulging in armed struggles against the system should realise that once they leave, the local people would be ruined and there would be total devastation of their culture, ethos and economy. Those championing the cause of deprived sections should convince the local administration and ensure that the Government schemes reach the former. She felt that the foundation of a non-violent movement was tougher than violence.
Referring to the extreme forms of violence in Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar and violence due to displacement of tribals in Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam, she attributed hatred as the main cause of violence. She said that the local cadres could connect with the poorest of the poor, have the ability to take risks and want to change the system for the benefit of the poor tribals. Their only fault was that they were seeing violence as the only means to achieve it.
Citing examples from the work being undertaken by NCPCR, she said how a young teacher had reformed a landlord who was against the education of children who were working as bonded labourers.
Presiding over the meeting, Chairman of Indian Council of Philosophical Research Koneru Ramakrishna Rao who was recently selected for the Padma Sri award, spoke about the different forms of violence and the need to channel it in the right direction. He said that frustration, anger, sense of insecurity and perceived threat were triggering violence. He felt that violence could be conquered by conscientious practice of love and compassion.
Max Velmans, a Professor of Psychology in Goldsmiths, University of London, spoke on the importance of family values and meeting the needs of people to prevent frustration and contain violence. He felt that specific programmes were needed to contain different types of violence.
Vice Chancellor of GITAM University G. Subrahmanyam, Dean K. Siva Ramakrishna and Seminar Director B. Sambasiva Prasad were among those who spoke.
