Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Rights of the Vulnerable
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prejudice against them persisted. The police, as well as members of the public, frequently treat
persons belonging to these communities as “born criminals” and “habitual criminals.”
10.4 The Commission constituted an Advisory Group to examine the matter, which submitted
its report in August, 1998 which made several recommendations to improve the condition of the
communities. Following are the main recommendations:
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A retired senior police officer of high reputation may be appointed in every state by the
Commission to watch the cases of atrocities against DNCs and to report them to the
Commission. Where there is a concentration of an old settlement existing, a separate
officer may be appointed at the district level;
Since the police training is still faulty in this respect, the National Police Academy
and other institutions imparting training to police officers may be advised to reorient their
syllabi;
NHRC may take the necessary steps leading to the repeal of the Habitual Offenders Act;
Central/State Governments may be directed to make proper enumeration of the DNCs;
The DNCs may be provided educational, employment and other infrastructural facilities;
State Governments may be asked to work out action plans for DNCs with specific provisions
in the plans. The Planning Commission may be advised in this regard;
To launch a massive information campaign aimed at bringing about change in the general
attitude towards the DNCs;
The National Sample Survey Organization should be directed to make a special survey of
the socio-economic conditions of the DNCs.
10.5 The Commission is monitoring the response from the State Governments/UTs on the
recommendations. Further, with a view to ascertain the socio-economic conditions of the DNTs/
NTs, the Commission has approved a research project on “A Study of the Human Rights Status
of Denotified and Nomadic Communities of Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra” received from the
DNT/NT People’s Action Group headed by Shri G. N. Devy.
10.6 The Commission is of the firm view that there is a need to combat age-old biases and
entrenched attitudes through education and public information campaigns. The change of attitudes
and mindset of civil society is the key to further progress in bringing down the discrimination.
For this purpose the Commission has been holding workshops and seminars so as to educate
and create awareness amongst the civil society.
10.7 In particular, the Commission has been deeply concerned about the atrocities against persons
belonging to Scheduled Castes. The Commission, therefore, requested Shri K B Saxena, a senior
retired civil servant, to look into this issue. In pursuance, he has completed the study and submitted
a comprehensive report, which contains a number of recommendations to various authorities. In
order to monitor the implementation of these recommendations, the Commission has set up a
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