Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all of us are entitled. It guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere, without distinction based on nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.

Human Rights includes a plethora of issues such as Adequate Housing, Justice, Business & Human Rights, Children, Civil & Political Rights, Climate Change, Democracy, Death Penalty, Detention, Disability & Human Rights, Food, Health, Minorities, Nationality, Poverty etc.

On the occasion the Government of India highlighted

    • Its stand on giving high priority to the welfare and development of the weaker sections of society

    • The role of local panchayats in the promotion and protection of Human Rights.

    • During the pandemic, the government ensured the right to food of every person through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, so that no one would go hungry.

    • Public Healthcare system has worked remarkably well.

    • Apart from this, wages have been increased under MGNREGA for the empowerment of workers in rural areas.

    • Also government directly transferred money to the accounts of migrant labourers affected by Covid-19, through DBT to ensure the protection of their rights.

    • The role played by National Human Rights Commission as a quasi- judicial watchdog without fear and favour.

    • The role played by security forces in protecting Human Rights while discharging their duties with full courage and how the security forces have shown utmost sensitivity towards the Rights of citizens.

    • The Commission has also responded to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, by moving most of its activities from the offline mode to the online mode this year.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)