contents - Jananeethi

ANNUAL REPORT - 2003-2004c) International Alliances:Jananeethi has good and healthyrelationships / working partnerships /institutional contacts with several internationalbodies / institutions / NGOs / People’sMovements. They are: Asian Human RightsCommission, Asian Legal Services Centre(both based in Hong Kong), Rule of Centre(Colombo), Kerala Partnership (UK), Setik(Kandy), Interights (UK), Minority RightsGroup (UK), Amnesty International, HumanRights Watch, Creative Exchange (UK), andJananeethi Fellowships at London,Birmingham, Portsmouth, Colchestor, MiltonKeynes, Coventry and Southampton inUnited Kingdom.XI. MAITHRI renamed asJANANEETHI HELPLINEJananeethi started in 2000 its servicesfor the suicidal and mentally disturbed personsunder the guidance and working model of‘Befrienders India’. It took the nameMAITHRI to help people identify the natureof services, as suicide prevention serviceswere being provided in Kochi under the samebanner of MAITHRI since 1995. The workculture of Jananeethi as organized initiative foraction in defence of the victims of torture andviolations of rights could not tally with the strictpolicy of non-interference by BefriendersIndia. The matter was discussed by the Boardof Directors of Jananeethi and our assessment30of Maithri services during past three yearswere far from satisfactory. Hence it wasresolved by the Board to discontinue Maithriand to reopen services for the protection andpromotion of people’s RIGHT TO LIVEunder JANANEETHI HELPLINE.Jananeethi, ever since, continues itscommitments to the people in distress as partof its integrated programme for prevention ofsuicides. It involves consultation, counselling,legal aid, legal action, medical assistance,short-stay home services, rehabilitation,lobbying with civil and political authorities andadvocacy for policy reforms. The services arebeing received by those who are mentally indistress, physically and sexually assaultedwomen, ill treated parents and old aged,neglected children, victims of rape or / andHIV /AIDS, terminally ill and dying, unwedmothers and so on.XII. PUBLICATIONSi) Crime and Justice:Jananeethi published a critique ofMalimath Committee Recommendations forcriminal justice administration in India. TheCommittee was appointed by the Governmentof India during the BJP regime for improvingthe justice administration under criminaljurisprudence. However, the so-called‘recommendations’ of the Committee appearto be alarming and embarrassing to the humanrights community and Mr.Basil Fernando,