Remove naxals but ensure human rights: NHRC

NEW DELHI, Aug 3:
Admitting that Naxals were a huge threat to the internal security of the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said it had no reservation of Government rooting out the menace, but it should be done without taking away basic rights of the innocent people.
“No problems if Government conducts any anti-naxals operation in the affected areas but our concern is that no human rights  are affected,” said an NHRC member, Satyabrata Pal, while interacting with the press here.
He also expressed shock on how public money was being used by naxals and other anti-nation forces against the country.
Funds meant for various flagship progammes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MGNREGA) and Indira Awas Yojana often land up in wrong hands, he said.
“It should be checked and stopped immediately,” he said adding that MGNREGA, which was launched to liberate bonded labourers by proving them jobs, was being misused by various agencies and people involved in its implementation.
“Thirty seven per cent of the total budget of the progamme was being used for ‘buying materials’, whereas most of the  work being carried out under it does not require any material  at all, as most of the employee are the local farmers who  would use their shovel and ‘tokries’ for work,” Mr Pal said.
Smilarly, under the Indira Awas Yojana, only Rs 45,000 was being given to homeless or to those who lived in ‘Kachcha’  houses, which was inadequate, hence forcing people to borrow  money from Mahajans, who in turn would harass them and this situation would eventually lead to bonded labour practice, he said.
“It was disheartening to see how norms were being floated while implementing these programmes of the government,” Mr Pal said adding that in most parts where ‘Pakka’ houses have been built, there no smokeless choolah or toilet, which was  mandatory in each house, Mr Pal said.(UNI)