OCT 16: Former President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, addressed the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) 32nd Foundation Day in New Delhi, urging all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to building a humane, just, and inclusive India. Lauding the NHRC’s work since its inception in 1993, he said the Commission has given “voice to the voiceless” and brought human rights to the forefront of governance.
He stressed that economic progress must move in tandem with the dignity of workers, particularly those in informal sectors like sanitation, construction, and transport, whose labour sustains cities. Kovind also underlined the impact of climate change, displacement, and mental health issues as key human rights challenges of modern times.
Commending NHRC’s initiative to hold a National Conference on the Human Rights of Prison Inmates, he said prisons must become spaces for reform, rehabilitation, and hope rather than mere confinement. He appreciated the government’s measures such as the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which strengthen human rights protections.
NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian highlighted the Commission’s achievements — handling over 23 lakh cases and recommending ₹263 crore in relief. Secretary General Shri Bharat Lal noted NHRC’s expanded digital access through HRCNet and growing international collaboration.
The event also marked India’s unopposed election to the UN Human Rights Council (2026–28), underscoring the country’s global commitment to human rights.
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