NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA (Inc. Code 900-904) WOMEN (Inc. Code 1300-1314) DEFENCE FORCES (Inc. Code 1600-1617) PARA-MILITARY FORCES (Inc. Code 1700-1717) SC/ST/OBC (Inc. Code 1900-1904) 271 8991 144 141 334 9904 144 178 457 8105 128 160 446 7413 72 152 471 7843 98 132 3210 3555 3454 3207 2660 NHRC Open Hearings on Atrocities against Scheduled Castes 2.15 During the period under review, the Commission took up around 517 cases in its 4 Open Hearings held at Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat - 136 cases (26 -27 April, 2018), Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh - 57 cases (25 May, 2018), Bengaluru, Karnataka-184 cases (2 August, 2018), Kolkata, West Bengal- 140 cases (13 -14 December, 2018). Dissemination of Information (Outside and in-house) 2.16 The NHRC, through Media and Communication wing, disseminates information about the NHRC activities through various means. These include press releases, media briefings, press conferences, interviews of Chairperson and Members. Deputy Director (M&C) also provides feedback to the Commission about human rights issues reported in the media and thus, it is a major source of news clippings for suo motu cognizance taken by the Commission. Outreach mechanism: Press Releases, Press Conferences, Interviews, Newsletter 2.17 During the period from 01.04.2018 to 31.03.2019, about 151 press releases/statements were prepared and issued by the Media & Communication wing about the various interventions and activities of the Commission. Around 119 news clippings were brought to the notice of the Commission for consideration of suo motu cognizance. Those press conferences were held by the Commission after the Camp Sittings. An Interview of Chairperson NHRC was coordinated for a magazine. Besides this, one interview of JS (P&A) was coordinated for the prime time at 9.00 P.M. bulletin of Doordarshan News on the Foundation Day of the Commission i.e. 12 October, 2018. In addition to this, live coverage of the main function addressed by the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh and NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice H. L. Dattu from the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Deputy Director (M&C) was deputed to participate in a Phone-In programme on All India Radio focusing on human rights dated 11.02.2019. 2.18 In order to give an idea about the issues reported in media about the NHRC’s role and interventions, daily news clippings were uploaded on the website of the Commission. A monthly compendium of these news clippings were also prepared and sent to the library for record and reference of the people visiting the Commission’s library. Besides this, the efforts were made to explore various alternative media platforms to expand outreach through people’s participation. 2.19 Apart from this, a monthly Newsletter was published in both languages English and Hindi, which is circulated free of cost among all the important functionaries of the Government(s), 8 ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19