While administering the oath to the officiating members of the national working committee of the Rashtriya Human Rights Protection Society on Monday, the Vice- Chancellor of Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Surendra Kumar invoked Vedas to buttress his point that human rights are inherent in the hoary scriptures of the land. “Vedas have a referential galore to the importance of human rights in the society. A true human being as extolled by the Vedas is one who contributes to making the collective life beautiful. The Rig Veda says that a person who infringes on the rights of others must be checked for the well being of the society,” he said. Many academics, lawyers and social activists aside from some industrialists were present on the occasion.
Notably, since it was formed in 2011, the society has been dealing with multiple complaints ranging from environmental pollution to lack of clean drinking water, bonded labour and others. Now it is mulling over enforcing the right to quality education in the Government-run schools.
The founder member of the society, Madhusudan Agarwal who is now its national president said it is a must to exercise the Yam Niyam part of Ashtang Yoga given by Rishi Patanjali. “It says that wherever there is a violation, the victim may take the help of the society to get it back with compensation through fighting litigation battles. We would continue with our mission of awakening our fellow brothers in the society to get their rights back,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, advocate lalit Miglani who is also the State law officer in the High Court said, “The biggest violation in human rights is in the realm of education. The right to good quality education is meant for everyone, but a poor child is forced to study in the Government school sans facilities which are given in the private schools. A Government school graduate after high school is not as confident as a private school graduate is, something that cripples their self-esteem throughout his life.” He further said that reservation does not come into the picture when one talks about the right to education for everyone. “While a student on scoring 30 per cent marks becomes a doctor through the reservation a 90 per cent scorer does not get even a seat in the medical college. If we wish to work on ensuring equal right to education reservation must be ended,” he affirmed.
Dwelling on the other side of the problem, Dr Sunil Batra of SMJN College said, “If private schools cannot be closed this can be ensured that the quality of education given in the Government-run schools is better.” The former IAS KK Sharma also echoed the same, stressing on that the people must be alert and work together to secure their fundamental rights from encroachment.
later, the organising committee head Neha Malik said, “We are on an expansion spree. After the selection of national working committee, office bearers at State and district levels would be selected from amongst women, youth and others to make it more dynamic.”