Mangalore, March 17: “Modernisation and privatisation has led to the destruction of our culture, old age homes are increasing,” said Karnataka State Human Rights Committee member and former judge C.G. Hungund.
Delivering an inaugural talk at ‘Praja dharma’, a convention of human rights awareness held at Don Bosco Hall, Mr. Hungund said “Globalisation has led to issues such as female foeticide, enforcement of the Right to Education Act, and bonded labour.” He mentioned that Low wages, lack of benefits and inter country adoption, which amounted to “human trafficking” has continued to persist in the state and needed the attention of human rights activists.
He added “Violations such as moral policing come out of modernisation and deviation from our culture, I don’t agree with the contention that human rights comes in the way of the police maintaining law and order. All we ask for is that they follow procedure during arrest. Illegal custody occurs as the police believe it is the only way to maintain peace,” and reminded that there was a need to sensitize officers who believed that human rights was low priority.
The programme, organised by the nongovernmental organisation Human Rights Federation of India, also saw eight activists namely Gopal Krishna M. Shettry from Uttara Kannada, Sandeep B.P. from Hassan, Udaya Nayak from Udupi, Victor Pinto from Chikmagalur, Venkatesh from Shimoga and Shobha Ananthayya from Dakshina Kannada being felicitated for their roles in addressing human rights violations.
S. Sadananda Shetty, Chairman of Shri Devi Educational Institution was the Chief Guest of the program, Kolladi Balakrishna Rai welcomed the gathering, Vani V. Alva and Chandrakala hosted the program.
