Annual Report 1999-2000 emphasis on vulnerable regions/areas,to deal with these deeply troubling practices that constitute gross violations of human rights. □ The Commission also ui^es that the training of other key players in the governance ofthe country including, inter alia, members of thejudiciary, administration and police personnel, be reoriented to make them more sensitive to gender related issues and the requirements of the Constitution, and the laws and treaty commitments ofthe country. □ The Commission strongly recommends that early acdon be taken at the political level to provide forbetter representation forwomenin the State Legislatures andinthe Parliament, either through early enactment of the 85*^ Amendment to the Constitution or other appropriate means. . , . ' □ The Commission recommends the strengthening of the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme. □ The Commission recommends that concerted efforts should be made to bring down the rate of maternal mortality with special reference to the larger northern states of India, where it is much higher than the national average, and through a more focussed National Nutritional Anaemia Control Programme to effectively bring doivn maternal mortality and low birth weight amongst children. DISCRIMINATION BASED ON CASTE 2.22 Tlie Constitution provides a powerful array ofprovisions to end discrimination based on caste; Article 15 lists the grounds on which the State shall not discriminate against any ofits citizens; caste being one of these grounds. The ffamers ofthe Constitution were deeply aware of the malignant effects of caste-based discrimination on Indian society. They were therefore keen, not only to end discrimination based on caste, but also to enable the taking of affirmative action under Article 15(4), so that special provision could be made for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and for the Scheduled Castes (hereinafter referred to as SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (hereinafter referred to as STs). Article 23 prohibiting forcedlabour, and Article 24 prohibiting childlabour in any hazardous employment, are also of importance in this connection, as SCs and STs are the majorvictims ofbonded labour and child labour. Article 25(2)(b)providingforsocial welfare and reform, and the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections ofHindus, is also most relevant, as the practice ofuntouchability often denied access to temples. Article 16(4) provided for reservation of appointments to improve the representation of SCs and STs in the services, and Article 16(4)(a) provided for reservation for them for promotion in the services, under the State. Article 46 enjoined the State to promote the educational and economic interests of SCs, STs and other weaker sections of society and to protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. 2.23 Despite the affirmative action and 'compensatory discriniination' permittedunder the Constitution and the range and scope of measures envisaged under those provisions, the 10