Human rights are the rights that a human being gets by birth. These rights can never be taken away. Human rights are nothing but a man’s right to live, enjoy equal and dignified rights to various facilities for living. On December 10, 1948 the United Nations made its universal declaration. Since then December 10 is observed as Human Rights Day in every country every year. To defend these rights in our country a statutory body the National Human Rights Commission was constituted on October 12, 1993. Tripura Human Rights Commission, a statutory body, has also been active at defending such rights in Tripura, a component state of the Indian Union. This Commission was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993.
Both print and electronic media can play a vital role in spreading awareness about human rights. Whenever a news or story of human rights violation published in these mediums draws attention of the Commission it springs into action. Addressing various grievances and issues of the people is a crucial responsibility of the state administration. If necessary redress is not effected then a hidden resentment among the people will keep growing which in turn will have an adverse impact on the administrative system as well as development of the state. That is why the Parliament felt the necessity to formulate a special law through which necessary redressal against human rights violation by a public servant or the government itself can be offered.
The Commission has noticed that common people have some kind of wrong notion about the Commission and other government machineries. This Commission is the statutory body to solve any issue of human rights violation by a public servant. At the same the Commission is responsible for spreading awareness about human rights and their safeguard through media, organising seminar etc, on the other hand non-government organization can also take up the onus of spreading awareness and lending help to the affected party to get redressal in such cases through the Commission. The Commission has also been encouraging the NGOs to generate awareness about various schemes launched by it.
This year the Commission has disposed of so many cases allowing relief to the victims. All final decisions and day to day orders of the Commission are uploaded in the website of the Tripura Human Rights Commission namely https://thrc.tripura.gov.in. It is felt necessary to percolate among the common people, actions of the Commission for perfection and strengthening of democracy and good governance. And here comes the role of print and electronic media to ensure that the affected people get their due redressal and justice.
If the actions and decisions taken by the Commission under Section 18 of the Act are reported and published in media it will be a great advantage for common people which will serve the purpose of good governance as well.