NHRC To 11 States: Protect your citizens from heatwave

The NHRC has directed the Commission to focus on measures such as shelter, drinking water, medical facilities and change in working hours. Read further on Dynamite New

New Delhi: In view of the threat of heatwave this summer, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday directed 11 states including Maharashtra to take immediate preventive measures to protect the lives of the economically weaker, homeless, elderly, children and workers working outdoors.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, 3,798 deaths were reported across the country due to scorching heat and heatstroke between 2018 and 2022.

In this context, the NHRC has directed the Commission to focus on measures such as shelter, drinking water, medical facilities and change in working hours.

The NHRC has written to the Chief Secretaries of Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rajasthan, asking them to take concrete steps to combat the heat wave.

The Commission has directed them to provide treatment for heat-related illnesses, fans, drinking water, ORS and shade in public places, and protective clothing and rest facilities for workers, in line with the guidelines of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

It has been directed to focus on providing fans, cool roof materials and ORS packets to families in colonies and labour camps.

The Commission has asked the states to submit a report on the measures taken to protect the vulnerable population in the heat wave as per the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and NDMA guidelines.

This is expected to reduce the impact of heat on the economically weaker sections, the homeless and those working in the open.

About NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission of India (abbreviated as NHRC) is a statutory body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993.

It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA). The NHRC is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, which is defined by the act as "rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India".

NHRC Composition

The NHRC consists of the chairperson and five members (excluding the ex-officio members).

A Chairperson, who has been a Chief Justice of India or a Judge of the Supreme Court.

One member who is, or has been, a Judge of the Supreme Court of India and one member who is, or has been, the Chief Justice of a High Court.

Three Members, out of which at least one shall be a woman to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in, matters relating to human rights.