Bi-State HRF conference concludes in Anantapur

Award-winning independent journalist Malini Subramaniam called for extensive reportage on human rights violations at Bastar in Chhattisgarh

The 10th conference of the Human Rights Forum for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, held at Anantapur, concluded on Sunday, December 15. The conference elected new bodies for both the States, and several books were released during the two-day programme.

Award-winning independent journalist Malini Subramaniam said the scale of human rights violations at Bastar in Chhattisgarh has become so large that the media and society have normalised it, and extensive reportage is required to bring the truth to the fore.

“There is a complete suspension of the rule of law in the region where the internationally and nationally recognised rights were affected by the Maoist movement. The Adivasis there are dependent on the forest for their livelihood and other needs, and their freedom of movement is curtailed by the police in the name of curbing Maoists,” she said. Recalling various incidents of violence, illegal detentions and extrajudicial killings of Aadivasis, Ms. Malini expressed concern that the media reported none of these incidents.

Talking about the need for a caste census, S.N. Sahu, Officer on Special Duty to former President K.R. Narayanan, said caste discrimination is so prevalent in the society that no person, even those belonging to the highest government offices, is exempt from it. He recalled how even K.R. Narayanan was not immune to caste-based discrimination and slurs.

“Caste system is a disease. A census is a must to know the extent of the spread of the disease. After all, when we have a census for animals, is it too much to ask for a census of the marginalised?” he asked.

Speaking on National Education Policy 2020, Kopparthi Venkata Ramana Murthy, writer and retired professor of history, said the NEP 2020 was veering towards the corporatisation of education, which would make education unattainable for the marginalised.

“The curriculum has the contours of saffronisation. The policy is so vacuous and confusing that there is hardly anything in it,” he said and stressed that only free universal education from KG to PG can make for a healthy, vibrant democracy.

The programme, presided over by S. Jeevan Kumar of the HRF, was attended by more than 300 people. The HRF functionaries and speakers released four books published by HRF on the occasion.

Published - December 15, 2024 06:07 pm IST