NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA vii. Debate Competition for personnel of State Police Forces: The police today are duty bound to conform to the principles of Human Rights in discharging their duties. The lower and middle levels in the police forces are extremely crucial from the viewpoint of Human Rights because they directly come into contact with the general public while discharging their duties. Since the year 2004, an attempt has been made by the Investigation Division of NHRC to increase the level of Human Rights awareness among the police officials by providing necessary financial assistance to State/Union Territories (UTs) Police Forces for conducting Debate Competitions for State Police Force personnel. Last year (2019-2020), directions were sent to all the States and UTs to conduct a debate competition among the state police personnel in their respective States/UTs as a practice to promote human rights awareness and sensitize the subordinate forces. The necessary financial assistance was provided by the Commission for the event. In response to that 16 States/UTs responded and conducted the debates on human rights issues. These are Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Delhi, Assam, Kerala, Mizoram, Telangana, West Bengal, Puducherry, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Uttarakhand Maharashtra & Manipur. viii. Training: The officers of the Investigation Division deliver lectures in training institutes and other forums, wherever they are invited to spread human rights literacy and promote awareness of the safeguards available for the protection of Human Rights. Regular lectures and presentations are given by officers of the Investigation Division to interns and students of Short Term as well as Long Term Internship Programmes of NHRC. NHRC Investigation team at Aligarh Muslim University ix. 36 Visits to places of Detention: There are a large number of complaints related to the living conditions in the jails, shelter homes and other institutions where persons are detained or lodged for the purpose of treatment, reformation or protection. The Investigating Officers (IOs) of the Investigation Division visit Jails, Shelter Homes and other institutions in different states as and when directed by the Commission and submit reports presenting the facts regarding specific allegations or the general condition of prisoners or inmates with regard to their Human Rights.. ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20