MAY 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has successfully concluded its two-week Online Short-Term Internship Programme for university students, which began on 13th May 2025. Out of 1,795 applicants from across the country, only 80 students were shortlisted, and 69 successfully completed the programme. The participants represented far-flung regions of 21 States and one Union Territory, reflecting the Commission’s inclusive approach towards capacity building and awareness in human rights education.
At the valedictory session, NHRC Member Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani congratulated the interns for completing the intensive programme and urged them to make the most of their new understanding of human rights. She underscored that human rights should not be seen as abstract or theoretical, but as lived experiences rooted in dignity, equality, and freedom. “Empathy must be your guiding principle,” she stated, emphasizing that real justice begins with understanding and compassion.
Highlighting the need for zero tolerance toward human rights violations, she brought attention to a pressing case from Andhra Pradesh. She spoke of the displaced tribal population from 14 villages in the Alluri Sitarama Raju district, uprooted due to the Polavaram project. These communities, she noted, have been relocated to poorly constructed housing devoid of basic amenities such as clean drinking water, sanitation, electricity, and healthcare. She criticized the lack of institutional response and called on authorities to treat such issues as urgent human rights challenges, not just policy matters.
NHRC Joint Secretary Shri Samir Kumar presented the detailed internship report. He informed that during the two-week programme, interns attended 35 sessions conducted by NHRC officials, subject experts, and representatives from civil society. These sessions covered a wide range of human rights themes, legal frameworks, case studies, and real-life challenges.
To provide practical insights, students were also taken on virtual visits to Tihar Jail, a Delhi Police Station, and the Asha Kiran Shelter Home. These virtual tours offered students a ground-level perspective on the systems meant to protect human rights and the challenges they face.
Competitions such as book reviews, group research project presentations, and declamations were also part of the programme, with winners being announced during the closing session.
This internship continues to be a flagship initiative of the NHRC to foster human rights awareness and leadership among youth.
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