Day 28 – Q 4.What role have NGOs played in protecting and promoting human rights in India? Discuss with the help of suitable examples.
4. What role have NGOs played in protecting and promoting human rights in India? Discuss with the help of suitable examples.
भारत में मानव अधिकारों की रक्षा और बढ़ावा देने में गैर सरकारी संगठनों की क्या भूमिका है? उपयुक्त उदाहरणों की सहायता से चर्चा करें।
Introduction:
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level.
Body
Task-oriented and driven by people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation through provision of information.
NGOs played in protecting and promoting human rights in India:
- Human rights and protection: Example: Amnesty International, India- works on various human rights issues throughout the country, including communal violence, access to justice, individuals at risk, gender-based violence, human rights education, business and human rights, and reducing excessive pre-trial detention.
- Women rights and protection: Examples: Azad Foundation- Rescue women and children from unsafe or violent environments and rehabilitate them at a safe temporary or permanent shelter, CREA- It is a Feminist human rights organization. It provides platforms to challenge oppressive norms and conduct programmes to increase self-confidence, awareness about sexuality and build leadership in women
- Supporter of the LGBT community: Example: Naz foundation- believes that LGBT peoples should have equal rights to social inclusion, sexual health education, and career opportunities.
- Children rights and protection: Example– Chetna (Childhood Enhancement through Training and Action)- NGO working towards the empowerment of street and working children in a participatory approach.
- Health issues related: Example: Udaan welfare foundation -The main aim of this NGO is to help the destitute, the main area of stress being women, children and senior citizens and also environmental welfare. One of their main projects is a cancer chemotherapy center.
- Helps during disasters: Example: GOONJ- Aims at solving the clothing problems of the downtrodden. Goonj also provides relief during Rahat floods in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar.
- Upholds human dignity: Example: Akshaya trust-The sole aim of this NGO is to restore human dignity. Operating in Madurai, this NGO offers rehabilitation, healthy food and care to the street destitute.
- Protection of Jammu Kashmir people: Example: Child Nurture And Relief Kashmir (Chinar Kashmir), Cultural Educational & Environmental Organisation are few NGOs upholding human rights in Jammu Kashmir
- Protection of Dalit rights: Example: National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)- Aims to be achieving greater visibility for Dalit issues and holding the state, in the form of its criminal justice system, accountable for its alleged failures.
- Protection of prisoner’s rights: Example: Human rights law networks (HRLN) are protecting the human rights who stay in jail.
- Protection of tribal rights: Example: Samata helps tribal groups address problems of land alienation, displacement, and political dis-empowerment. Its mission is to uphold the traditional, constitutional, and human rights of the tribal or adivasi people.
- To end female genital mutilation: Example: sahiyo- main concerns as females being victims of social norms and old traditions working to eliminate these traditions through media, proper education, collaboration with other human rights organizations and social discussions.
Conclusion
NGOs have achieved much in single-issue campaigning, ranging from the abolition of slavery to the landmines ban and access to HIV medication. It is responsibility of each individual and government to cooperate for the welfare of all and sustainable development.
