The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Central government, Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh governments and other authorities asking for reports on the ongoing farmers’ protests.
The NHRC said that it received several complaints regarding the protests. The NHRC said there were allegations of adverse impact on industrial units, seriously affecting more than 9,000 micro, medium, and large companies. Transportation is also adversely impacted, causing commuters, patients, physically challenged people and senior citizens to suffer due to the heavy congestion on roads caused by the protests. “There are also reports that people have to travel long distances to reach their destinations due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation and barricades have been put on the borders,” the statement reads.
The Commission issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, Government of NCT of Delhi, Director Generals of Police, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling upon them to submit their respective Action Taken Reports. It further observed that there was an allegation that there was a breach of coronavirus protocols by the agitating farmers at the protest site and that local residents were not being allowed to move out of their houses due to the blockades.
The NHRC, besides issuing notices to various states, has requested the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) to examine the adverse impact of the farmers’ agitation on industrial and commercial activities/production and disruption of transport services on commercial and normal consumers including inconvenience and additional expenditure, etc. and to submit a comprehensive report in the matter by 10 October 2021.
“The National Disaster Management Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, Government of India, have been asked to submit reports with respect to the adverse impact of farmers’ agitation on various aspects and observance of COVID Protocols at the protests sites,” the NHRC said. The commission also issued a fresh reminder to the District Magistrate, Jhajjar, and asked to file the report by 10 October 2021, in the case of alleged gang rape of human rights activist at the protest site as no report was received from the DM regarding the payment of compensation to the next of kin of the deceased. It further said that the Delhi School of Social Work, University of Delhi, was requested to depute teams to conduct a survey and submit the report assessing the disruption of livelihood, lives of people, impact on the aged and infirm persons due to protracted agitation by farmers.