Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Killing five dalits died & 30 injured in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu

Open Hearing in Matter of Atrocities on S.C. at Chennai, Tamil Nadu



Case Details of File Number: 1233/22/30/2011
Diary Number26071
Name of the ComplainantDR. LENIN, GENERAL SECRETARY
AddressMANAVADHIKAR JAN NIGRANI SAMITI, S.A. 4/2A, DAULATPUR,
VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the VictimFIVE DALITS DIED & 30 INJURED
AddressPARAMAKUDI,
RAMANATHAPURAM , TAMIL NADU
Place of IncidentPARAMAKUDI
RAMANATHAPURAM , TAMIL NADU
Date of Incident9/11/2011
Direction issued by the CommissionThese cases relate to the police firing in Paramakudi area of Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, on 11.09.2011, in which 6/7 persons died and several injured. Pursuant to the directions of the Commission to the DGP, Tamil Nadu, the SP, Ramanathapuram District, has sent his report dated 29.02.2012. As per this report, Crime No. 300/11 U/S 147/148/149/427/324/435/332/307 IPC and Section 3/4 of the TNPPDL Act, was registered at Town Police Station of Paramakudi on the incident in question. Vide Government Order dated 29.11.2011 the investigation of the case has since been transferred to the CBI. The report further says that the State Government has appointed a one man Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Shri Sampath, a retired Judge of the Madras High Court, to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The report is yet to come. The report further says that vide Government Order dated 29.11.2011, the State Government has announced relief of Rs.5 lakhs each to the NOK of the deceased persons. The Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, is directed to inform the Commission of the status of the inquiry by the Inquiry Commission within four weeks. He should further forward to the Commission proof of payment of the announced relief to the NOK of the persons who died in the police firing. The Additional Director, CBI, Chennai, is also directed to inform the Commission of the current status in the case within four weeks.
Action TakenAdditional Information Called for (Dated 7/5/2012 )
Status on 7/31/2012Response from concerned authority is awaited.

Note: For further details kindly contact National Human Rights Commission, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, PIN 110001 Tel.No. 23385368 Fax No. 23384863 E-Mail: covdnhrc@hub.nic.in
Disclaimer: Neither NHRC nor NIC is responsible for any inadvertent error that may have crept in the Complaint Information being published on NET. The Complaint Information on net is for immediate information to the Complainants/ Victims.



http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article2447937.ece //ww


n- Uneasy calm in Ramanathapuram district


C. JAISHANKAR
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The Hindu
Bodies of three persons who were killed in Sunday's police firing in Paramakudi being taken to their villages from Madurai. Photo: S. James
Death toll goes up to six; police say situation under control in violence-affected areas
Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in many parts of Ramanathapuram district on Monday, a day after the police opened fire on Dalit protesters at Paramakudi near here, the death toll went up to six.
After post-mortem, the bodies of two of the victims were taken to their respective villages from hospitals in Ramanathapuram and Parmakudi under tight police security. The last rites were performed in the presence of a large number of police and revenue personnel.
Five Point Junction, which bore the brunt of the violence, wore a deserted look. A large number of stones were strewn along the arterial roads of the town, particularly the Madurai-Rameswaram highway, Mudukulathur and Ilayangudi roads.
Almost all shops and business establishments in Paramakudi town remained closed for the second consecutive day. Similarly, fearing a backlash, most of the shops put up the shutters in Ramanathapuram, Tiruvadanai, Parthibanur, Abiramam, Kamudhi, Kadaladi, Mudukulathur and other areas. Schools and colleges remained closed. All TASMAC shops in the district have been closed indefinitely.
Bus services to various sensitive places were suspended for the second consecutive day. There was no movement of public transport to Paramakudi, Mudukulathur, Kamudhi, Parthibanur and other places. Bus connectivity between Rameswaram and Madurai, via Ramanathapuram and Paramakudi, also remained suspended. However, services between Rameswaram and Tiruchi were resumed.
Additional reinforcement of police personnel, including Deputy Inspector Generals and the Superintendents of Police, drawn from various districts of the State, have been sent to places which had witnessed caste violence in the past. Mobile parties, with Armed Reserve police, have been asked to monitor the movement of anti-social elements.
Rajesh Das, Inspector General of Police, South Zone, who held several rounds of meetings with police personnel at Parmakudi, told The Hindu that the situation was under control. All experienced officers had been brought to the district for bandobust. Adequate police strength was drawn from various parts. There would not be any more incidents.
Asked what prompted the police to open fire, Mr. Das said since the matter was to be probed by an inquiry commission it was not proper for him to speak about it.
Collector V. Arun Roy, who visited the injured at the hospitals, said that normality was restored in the district. The revenue officials, with magisterial powers, have been posted at many places.

ATTEMPT TO SET BUS ON FIRE

Virudhunagar Staff Reporter writes:
Miscreants attempted to set afire a State-run bus and smashed the windscreen of another vehicle in the district on Monday.
Timely intervention by the Fire and Rescue Service personnel saved the bus from being charred.
The police said that the fire was noticed at around 2 p.m. on the Virudhunagar-Sankaralingapuram town bus parked in the Old Bus Stand. Local people alerted Fire and Rescue Service personnel who rushed to the spot.
Earlier, a mob of around 20 persons destroyed the windscreens of a town bus near Sivakasi. After intercepting the Sivakasi-Sattur town bus at Mayiladumparai, the mob broke the windshield with clubs and by throwing stones. No passenger was injured.
On Sunday, incidents of damaging two buses, one at Amathur and another at Soolakarai, were reported in the district.
Over 500 persons blocked the Virudhunagar-Srivilliputtur road at Senkundrapuram on Monday morning demanding Rs.10 lakh compensation for the families of those killed in police firing on Sunday at Paramakudi. They also sought release of all those arrested.

THREE BODIES SENT AMID TIGHT SECURITY

Staff Reporter from Madurai writes:
Post-mortem was conducted on the bodies of three Dalits hailing from Ramanathapuram district, who were killed in Sunday's police firing, here on Monday even as scores of Dalits gathered at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH).
The bodies were later sent to the victims' villages amid tight security. While Vellaichami (65) of Chatrakudi succumbed to bullet injuries in hospital, Theerpukani (27) of Melakodumanur and Muthukumar of Kaattuparamakudi were brought dead to GRH.
Balakrishnan (19) and Jayaprakash (19), who suffered bullet injuries in the police firing at Chinthamani in Madurai were shifted to a private hospital after their relatives complained that the treatment was unsatisfactory.
Eleven persons who were injured in police lathi charge at Paramakudi and 13 others who sustained injuries during police action at Chinthamani were also treated at the GRH.
Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by former MLA N. Nanmaran, and members of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front visited the hospital.
P. Sampath, president, TNUEF, said that the injured were not being treated properly. “One of the injured, Chaturagiri (22), told us that the bullet which had pierced his left leg was yet to be removed.”
Both CPI (M) and TNUEF condemned the police firing saying it could have been avoided. “It was not at all wise on the part of the police to arrest Dalit leader John Pandian on the guru puja day, when so many Dalits had gathered at a single spot,” said Mr. Sampath.

“POLICE SHOWED RESTRAINT”

S. George, Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, visited two private hospitals in the city and met three police personnel injured in the rioting. He said that the situation was under control in Paramakudi and adequate police personnel have been deployed.
Asked what actually happened in Paramakudi, he said that the police had shown much restraint while facing the violent mob. “The situation went out of control and we had to open fire.”
As many as 99 persons have been arrested in connection with Sunday's violence at Chinthamani.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/6-dead-in-police-firing-jayalalithaa-fights-criticism-132861 /201 6 dead in police firing, Jayalalithaa fights criticism

Sam Daniel | Updated: September 13, 2011 00:32 IST
Madurai: A bus parked on an empty road with its scorched insides. Slippers lying near a rubble that's still smoking. Streets full of shops that have not opened for business on a Monday.

This is Paramakudi today, a small town in Ramanathapuram district (a ten hour drive from Chennai in Tamil Nadu.)  Six people have died since last afternoon when the police opened fire on a violent mob.

They were upset that a Dalit leader - John Pandian had been arrested to prevent him from attending the death anniversary of the late Immanuel Sekaran, a dalit leader. The police claims it was worried that his speech would provoke communal tension.
·       
30 buses and 15 police vehicles were damaged by a large crowd that also hurled stones at the police after news of Mr Pandian's arrest spread. The police used tear gas and lathi-charged the crowd  of nearly 700. 

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said in the Tamil Nadu assembly that a retired High Court judge will determine the chain of events that led to the firing.  Yesterday, she had said the police had no option but to shoot at the crowd for self defence and to protect public property.  She also suggested some parties had instigated the violence "for their political gain."

"The police were very responsible," said Arun Roy, the Collector of the Ramanthapuram district where the tragedy unfolded.

The main opposition party -the DMK - has led the criticism of the police.  Its president, M Karunanidhi, who was voted out as Chief Minister in May, said that the police should have anticipated the public reaction to Mr Pandian's arrest and planned accordingly.  Other parties like the Left and the PMK have asked that the policemen involved be suspended.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Streets of Varanasi- A Photographic Journey



Regarded as one of the most sacred cities in the world by the Hindus, Varanasi, historically known as Benares, has been touted as “older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together” by Mark Twain. The Ganges River runs through the heart of Varanasi and many Hindus take pilgrimages to bathe in the sacred river, washing themselves of their sins. Fascinated with the people in one of India’s oldest cities, James Hotham, a photographer from Bath, England, began a project in January 2012 photographing the communities living along and behind the riverfront. He has captured the people and their city in such a way that you feel as if you are right there with them.
After the completion of his university education, James Hotham moved to Hong Kong, where he was influenced by the journalists he encountered to begin to travel and photograph more widely in the region of Asia. James is attracted to photography for “its use as a means to reflect and report on the marginalisation and oppression of specific groups within a society.” He has produced a series of stories focused on the caste system in India and the destruction of historic neighborhoods in China. He has remarkable albums of the sari Weavers of Varanasi, many of whom have lost their jobs due to power loom weaving and uprising costs of silk, the Musahars, one of the most economically and socially disadvantaged groups in all of India, and Beijing’s Disappearing Hutongs. Click on the links for a brief history of each, along with Hotham’s photographic immersion into each culture.   

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Intervention on death of children in UP,India due to encephalitis

 
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---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: PVCHR MINORITY <minority.pvchr@gmail.com>
Date: 2011/9/15
Subject: उत्तर प्रदेश मे ‘इंसेफेलाइटस’(दिमागी बुखार) से हजारो बच्चो के मौत एवम उत्तर प्रदेश प्रशासन की उदासिनता के समबन्ध में




सेवा मे,                                        15 सितम्बर 2011
      अध्यक्ष,
राष्ट्रीय मानवाधिकार आयोग,
   नई दिल्ली
विषय:- उत्तर प्रदेश मे ‘इंसेफेलाइटस’(दिमागी बुखार) से हजारो बच्चो के मौत एवम उत्तर प्रदेश प्रशासन की उदासिनता के समबन्ध में
महोदय,
       मैआपका ध्यान 21 सितम्बर 2011 के इंडिया टुडे के अंक की खबर  इस साल भी वही मंजर वही तबाही पर आकृष्ट करना चाहता हुँ।   
    लेख है किगोरखपुर,बस्ती आदि जिलो मे इंसेफेलाइटस की वजह लगातार गरीबो के बच्चे मर रहे है । खेद है कि सरकार अभी भी बचाव के उपायो पर उदासिन बनी हुई है । सरकार द्दारा चिकित्सको, स्वय गठित कमेटीयो के सुझाव पर भी अमल नही कर रही है। इन जिलो मे कई महत्वपुर्ण सुझावो मसलन सरकार द्दारा गठित प्रो0 ढोल कमेटी का सुझाव – प्रभावित जिलो मे मच्छरो को नष्ट करने हेतु हवाई फागिंग, इंसेक्टीसाईडिंग कंसंट्रेशन टेस्टिंग लैब का निर्माण,,वेक्टर वार्न डिजिज कंट्रोल प्रोग्राम मे रिक्त महत्वपुर्ण पद आदि पर भी कार्यवाही नही हो रही है।  
          महोदयइस सम्बंध में निवेदन/मांग है इंसेफेलाइटस से ग्रस्त बच्चो एवम उनके परिवारो को अतिशीध्र सहायता उपलब्ध करायी जाय,स्वच्छ पेय जल,वातावरण हेतु संचालित योजनाओ की जांच की जाय तथा दोषियो पर कार्यवाही की जारी किया जाय।कृपया अतिशीध्र आवश्यक कार्यवाही करने का कष्ट करे जिससे नवजातो को न्याय मिल सके।  
भवदीय
डा लेनिन
(महा सचिव)
मानवाधिकार जन निगरानि समिति
एस.ए. 4 /2 ए,दौलतपुर,वाराणसी
   मोबा.न0:+91-9935599333




http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/encephalitis-kills-376-children-in-eastern-up-spreads-to-delhi-139700.

http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-only-a-miracle-can-end-gorakhpurs-encephalitis-nightmare/20111102.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2568353.ece

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/encephalitis-peak-season-in-up-a-month-away-80-already-dead/958484/

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/encephalitis-deaths-in-gorakhpur/1/160303.html

http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=738911

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/gorakhpur-lives-lost-to-encephalitis/1/160302.html

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rahul-gandhi-health-minister-encephalitis-hit-gorakhpur/1/156900.html

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_ghulam-nabi-azad-visits-encephalitis-hit-gorakhpur_1601355

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xelz27_encephalitis-in-gorakhpur-17-dead-i_news
India Today on encephalitis

Saturday, July 21, 2012

"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind"

http://pvchr.asia/?id=85National Consultation Report


National Consultation
on
"Testimonial campaign contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India"

"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind"
Mahatma Gandhi

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy (NATT) in collaboration of Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT)[i] and European Union[ii] project was successfully held a two days national consultation i.e. 12th – 13th July, 2012 in New Delhi on "Testimonial campaign contribute to eliminate impunity for perpetrators of torture in India" on  12th July, 2012 at Magnolia hall, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi and on 13th July, 2012 at Indian Social Institute, 10, Institutional Area, Lodi Road, New Delhi.

12th July, 2012
PVCHR welcomed and honoured the Chief Guest Hon'ble Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson National Human Rights Commission, Guest of Honour: Mr. Pavel Svitil, Chargé d'affairesDelegation of the European Union to India and chair of inauguration session, Mr. Gautam Navlakha, Consultant Editor-Economic and Political Weekly (EPW). Mr. Sankar Sen, Ex- Director General, National Human Rights Commission, Dr D Roy Laifungbam, Chairperson, Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Torture Victims (H2H) and Mr. Mathews Philip, Executive Director SICHREM with the traditional silk shawl.
Program started with the welcome speech and key note address by Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General PVCHR.[iii] He welcomed the chief guest, guest of honor, key speaker and all delegates from Manipur, Assam, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi etc.
He said, "We are organising National Consultation "Testimonial Campaign contributes to eliminates impunity for perpetrator of Torture in India"  Challenging the impunity through breaking the silence is based on eliminating the fear, phobia, hopelessness and fragmentation of the survivors in empathetic safe and secure environment. Survivor's psycho – social and legally supported through Testimonial Therapy converted into human rights defender/barefoot worker based on concept of justice, democracy, non – violence and human dignity. We are aware that the fear and phobia due to torture and organized violence (TOV) is imparting culture of silence and testimonial therapy as a psycho -legal support to the survivor is breaking silence against impunity."
Nageshwar Patnaik, Vice –President PVCHR honoured Mohammad Aamir Khan with the Jan Mitra Award with 60000/- Rs (Sixty thousand Rupees only) as a financial support for his commitment and conviction based on rule of law, democracy and non-violence for protection of human life with dignity of individual.[iv] Mohammad Aamir Khan, who was released in January 2012 after 14 years of incarceration and was named as falsely implicated in 20 low-intensity bomb blasts which took place between December 1996 and October 1997 in Delhi, Rohtak, Sonepat and Ghaziabad.[v]

Hon'ble Justice K.G Balakrishnan, Chairperson NHRC as a chief guest addressed the conference "Parliament needs to pass the Bill urgently so that the culture of extracting information through torture is made illegal and the guilty are punished by law."

"Torture is a serious problem for India. Basic human rights are violated when torture is inflicted. It is not just physical pain, but mental which traumatises the individual and is an assault on his right to life," he said. India has also not ratified the UN convention against torture which asks states to declare torturing a criminal offence under its jurisdiction, he noted.
A multi-pronged approach from the training and education of security forces to a fair and impartial judicial system is required," said Balakrishnan. He also added 'Silence' is the biggest promoter of impunity. A well – informed, well guided public can make a big change in the existing scenario.
Dr. Lenin's organization is doing a tremendous task by holding testimonial ceremonies where-in testimonials are read out and survivors are facilitated. It boosts up the moral and confidence among them. This creates and atmosphere of understanding among the survivors of different kind of violence and between different communities. They keep them following up as per UN standards, until everything becomes normal. We need several such organizations to testimonial campaign to its logical end. Use of the all the possible means to raise the voice for justice, especially Information Technology has to be utilized to amplify the unheard voice of people.[vi]
Mr. Sankar Sen, former Director General of NHRC, said, "Stringent punishment for perpetrators of torture and adequate compensation for the victim must be done to check this growing culture of impunity,"
The need to give proper training to the police and sensitizing them about the rights of persons lodged in jail is urgent, he said adding investigating the case needs to be paramount which sadly is not the case. "Police devotes very less time in investigating the cases," he added.
Compensation and rehabilitation are also a neglected part in our justice system which must be high on the priority list of the government and security forces, Sen said.
Dr D Roy Laifungbam,[vii] Chairperson, Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Torture Victims (H2H) said, "Torture survivors are recluses socially, and also tend to get neglectful, medically as a manifestation of the syndrome of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Convincing them to give their 'testimonies' demand that practitioners bring to light both the therapeutic significance as well as the legal necessities. They have to be convinced on how an effective mechanism to promptly investigate any allegation of torture demands them to speak up about the incident.

Giving testimonies also reveals why a survivor of torture deserves full rehabilitation to rebuild their life. 'Rehabilitation' has been this year's focus on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. It is every torture survivor's right and the Government should be accountable to make compensation an enforceable right.

Nowadays, many torture survivors have come to terms with their trauma through this method of intervention as they listen to and realize that they are not alone to have gone through this man made tragedy. An optimistic ground can also be created to make provisions for the survivors to speak up and in the long run raise a voice in unison against the perpetrators who revels in impunity. The message has to be loud and clear so as to break the silence against impunity. Every citizen of democratic and free India, as a fundamental right, seeks the immediate ratification of the Convention against Torture without any reservations and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. India signed the treaty in 1997 without any reservation or declaration. It is a matter of national disgrace that 15 years since, the government has failed to adopt an appropriate Torture Prevention Bill that is fully compliant with the provisions of the UN treaty and international human rights law. Until accountable legislative and policy measures are adopted and enforced, victims of serious human rights violations have no full recourse towards redress for their sufferings in the continuing climate of impunity that prevails in India.

Testimonies contribute substantially towards a positive change but for the victims, accountability and justice, is a human right. But impunity also draws a much larger canvas, one that stretches the horizons of human rights issues. Impunity is a severe rot in the very roots of democracy, governance and the rule of law.

Impunity cannot exist without legal sanction and political patronage. The concept and development of the 'security sector' in India needs a very careful and holistic appraisal if we are to uproot impunity. The term is associated with different and often competing definitions, which include either a narrow or a broad set of actors. In the first instance, 'security sector' refers to only state organisation authorised to use force. In the broader definition, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) suggested in 2002 a definition which also includes justice and law enforcement institutions, civil management oversight bodies, non-statutory security forces and civil society groups.

Mr. Mathews Philip, Executive Director SICHREM[viii] said, "Probably the most important and effective step to combat this evil would be to increase transparency within the system where records, police stations and detention centres are open to scrutiny by members of the media, non-governmental organizations and other watch organizations. There must be a clear chain of command in the ranks of the police and each official must know that they would be held personally responsible for the treatment of the detainees under their supervision. Preventing any forms of incommunicado detention and improving detaining conditions must also be carried out. Female officers must be present when women are detained. Awareness programmes must be carried out to make known to officials that any form of torture or ill-treatment would not be tolerated and that matters relating to these would be strictly investigated. Legislation must be strengthened allowing for effective adjudicating and investigating bodies to look into matters of alleged torture and the punishments reserved for convicted individuals should be made stricter."

Addressing the meeting, Guest of Honour Mr. Pavel Svitil, Chargé d'affaires, European Union Delegation to India emphasized that the prevention and eradication of all forms of torture and ill-treatment worldwide represents one of the main objectives of the EU human rights policy. The EU Guidelines give the EU a wide range of instruments to raise the issue of torture and to reach EU objectives, most notably: through political dialogue, diplomatic representations and financial assistance under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. "We are hence raising the issue of torture systematically with our partner countries, and no individual country or group of countries is left out" he added Over the last 5 years, according to Mr. Svitil, an average of € 12 million (Rs. 85 crore) per year had been allocated, globally, by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights to funding anti-torture projects. Between 2007-10, the EIDHR funded, indicatively, 80 projects around the world in the field of torture prevention and victim rehabilitation. For 2011-2013, the EIDHR allocated almost € 38 million (Rs. 270 crore) to support civil society organisations around the world to implement anti- torture actions (i. e. € 12.5 million, Rs. 88 crores per year).

In India, Mr Svitil informed the meeting, the EU provides support to NGOs for actions related to prevention of torture and rehabilitation of torture victims. Since 2006, it has committed more than € 2.6 million. (Rs.19 crore) to support a number of projects that have focused on prevention of torture through awareness-raising and advocacy; improving health and dignity of torture victims; and reducing the incidence of torture by police among certain communities.[ix]
Mr. Gautam Navlakha, Consultant Editor-Economic and Political Weekly while concluding the session pointed towards the three difficulties that face:
First problem, level of passage of prevention of torture bill itself which is actually stucked and not moving anywhere. It is before now the cabinet and cabinet has to take decision, whether modified and strengthen act which is what we asking for whether it will passed or won't be because there is lot of pressure coming from security apparatus, Home Ministry and Ministry of defence and other who believe any strengthening of act will impinge on India ability to handle conflict situation, insurgency and terrorism etc.
The other problem we faces in the light of supreme court in Pathribal judgment redefined "good faith" to mean that every security personnel would be presumed to be working in good faith and this can only be dislodged if there is cogent and cognisable evidence. This is catch 22 situation because even if there is prima facie evidence against security personnel without sanction from the government no prosecution can be effected. Reality is that government is chary of giving sanction.
Third Problem Societal level which Dr. Sanker Sen pointed out which is very important there is sanction and there is support from within the society for torture to take place. I will take 3 are challenges are force before us:
Rehabilitation and Justice for survivor of torture is not only compensation. In my view it is more important things in term of justice and the together with justice rehabilitation of victim what Dr. Roy & Mathews Philip pointed towards testimonial, said Dr Roy, would be unfair unless we can ensure their rehabilitation. In absence of it testimonials could reinforce trauma. It is very important in term of rehabilitation there are problem. It draw attention towards the fact that testimonial from the victim unless we are able to guarantee & help mere testimonial will now survive. I think it is a very – very important point that you must take rehabilitation of survivor is very important. All of us work in the civil and democratic rights organizations. We come across innumerable of cases and we still and get confronted by people and group who suffered or whose life have being destroyed.
I would like to thanks the organizers of this conference with focus attention on something which is actually being neglected in this country for very – very long time and torture seem to have come spurt only become part of our consciousness.   It is a high time we ended torture. Impunity where forces or officers feel that they are free.
Mr. John Dayal member of the National Integration Council (NIC) of India inaugurated Musahar documentary[x].


Mr. Musab Iqbal Chief Editor, Newzfirst chaired the first session  Breaking of silence and amplifying the voice of survivors in the era of Information technology  and the key speakers were Mustaq – Ul – Haq Ahmad Sikander, Independent Activist and Freelance Writer[xi] and Mr. Philip Mathew, Executive Director, SICHREM, Mr. Goldy George, Dalit Rights Activist.
The second session Discussion on Conflict Prone Area was chaired by Mr. K. S Subramanian the key speaker Montu Ahanthem Secretary Wide Angle, Mr. Tarun Kanti Bose, Independent journalist[xii], Prasenjit Biswas, Member Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, Shipra Devi, Managing Trustee, Nivedita Foundation and Mr. Roop Sen,  Sanjog, Mr. Manoj Jena,  Chairperson, Human Rights Front.

After Lunch Ms. Uma Chatterjee chaired the session where two member of management Committee Mr. Anup Kumar Srivastava shared about PVCHR - EU "Reducing Police Torture against Muslims at the Grass – root level by engaging and strengthening Human Rights Institutions in India.
Ms. Shirin Shabana Khan shared about PVCHR RCT project "promoting psycho – legal framework to reduce Torture and Organized Violence in India.

In the last session to know about Impact of testimonial therapy in the life of suvivors five survivors Harinath, Bhonu, Ram Kripal, Phool Chand, Kamlesh shared the changes in the life after being psychologically supported through testimonial therapy.  Mohd. Aamir Khan also shared his self-suffering and said "Implementation of our laws needs to be strict and the trial must be expedited". The delegates after hearing the self-suffering hold tears in their eyes.

On 13th July, 2012
Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik, Vice President PVCHR chaired the session Future planning for making testimonial movement in India: Consolidation of National Alliance on Testimonial Therapy in India and key speaker were Mr. Philip Mathew, Executive Director, SICHREM, Ms. Uma Chatterjee, Director, Sanjog, Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, Executive Director, PVCHR, Prasenjit Biswas, Member Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, Mr. Santosh and Dr. Syed  Mahar  - Ul -  Hasan, Director/General Secretary, United Reformers Organization Bhopal[xiii]

The future planning as follows:
1)  A strong group of well trained human rights defenders from marginalized Communities  documenting cases of torture and other forms of human rights violations;   
2)  Civil society groups engage the elected representatives  in pre legislative  right based debate from the panchayat level on the 'State of marginalized community';
3)  Human rights institutions effectively intervene on the complaints of human rights violation by the state and non state actors and provide directions for delivery of justice, adequate compensation and rehabilitation ;
4)  Effective media engagement results in establishment of a strong civil society network that challenges the present development paradigm and social discrimination which are the main cause of massive human rights violation.
5)  Model anti Torture and organized violence Village creation and Survivors empowered to be Defenders
Mr. Goldy George highlighted to bring the politics of survivors for strengthening the local processes against torture and organized violence. He emphasized on breaking of silence and resilience of survivors through inculcating empowerment processes. After in depth deliberation we chalked out follows value for NATT:
·        To promote & strengthen "Politics of survivor" through psychosocial support to survivors & amplify the voice of voiceless.
·        To promote & strengthen the diverse independent processes against torture and organized violence based on rule of law, justice, democracy and non – violence.
·        NATT is platform for sharing and learining and solidarity for survivors movement against TOV, not for funding.

Core team of NATT formed:

SICHREM from Karnataka, PVCHR from Uttar Pradesh, BHRPC from Assam, DASHRA from Bihar, Mr. Goldy George from Chattisgarh, Mustaq Ahmad Sikander from Jammu & Kashmir, Ms. Afsana Sayed from Jammu & Kashmir and Wide Angle from Manipur.

The program ended with vote of thanks given by MS. Shruti Nagvanshi, Managing Trustee, PVCHR/JMN. 


The Consultation was moderated by Ms.Akansha Pandey.

News in Media:

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End Note:


[i] www.rct.dk PVCHR – RCT project "Promoting psycho-legal framework to reduce torture and organized violence.
ii] http://eeas.europa.eu/india/index_en.htm PVCHR - EU project " Reducing police torture against Muslim at the grass- root level by engaging & strengthening human rights in India.

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