MHRC Acting Chairperson cites inadequacies at the Commission
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 04 2019:
Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Acting Chairperson has conveyed that the commission has not been functioning effectively although there are numerous activities that the Commission can take up.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Human Rights Commission office today, Acting Chairperson Khaidem Mani said that MHRC is a human rights institution which should have four branches/divisions namely administration, law, investigating, research and training.
He maintained that a campus similar to that of a university should be set up for the Commission, unfortunately, no separate infrastructure is present for MHRC.
Maintaining that sister organisations of the MHRC namely Women Commission, Child Commission, Minority Commission can be placed together inside a complex like the Court complex, in a campus as big as the university, Khaidem Mani said that it is the responsibility of the State Government to oversee the matter.
He informed that 10 staff members are running the office at present, which has five to six rooms in the family Court building in Lamphel adding that the required number of staff for MHRC is 240 and minimum required is 130.Moreover the sitting arrangement has not been properly done apart from the lack of stenographer, library, infrastructure and irregular release of salary, he added.
As per the Financial Autonomy Section-33 Protection of Human Right Act, the State legislature should provide grant-in-aid by forming a separate budget.
Meanwhile, sanctioning proper fund to MHRC, as per Section-33 has not been fulfilled, Khaidem Mani said adding that the Government should be aware of such loopholes.
Citing the insufficiencies of the Commission, he went on to state that there is lack of secretary, 20-30 constable for a division, 4-5 inspector etc.
It may be recalled that MHRC was set up in 1997 and each term lasts for five years while Advocate Khaidem Mani was appointed as the Acting Chairperson on August 30, 2018.He stated that the commission has able to take up 64 cases after his appointment within six months while 4-5 cases have been disposed out of the total.