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Chandigarh from 26 – 28 November 2014 (for the States of Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Punjab and Union Territory of Chandigarh). The first day was exclusively
devoted to the Open Hearing, the second day to the Camp Sitting and the third
day for interaction with NGO functionaries followed by a meeting with senior
State Government officials.
Dissemination of NHRC Informationand Interaction with Media
2.9 In 2011,the Commission, through its Media & Communication Unit,
devised a Media and Outreach Policywith the aim ofguidingits various Divisions
in planning and organizing their activities in a manner that amplifies the outreach
of the Commission using, more effectively,diverse platforms, including the media.
2.10 In line with the NHRC Media and Outreach Policy, the Unit, during the
period under review, issued a record number of 210 press releases and statements
about the various interventions made by the Commission and activities undertaken.
It further organized five press conferences and 17 interviews of Chairperson,
Members and senior officers of NHRC with the All India Radio, Doordarshan
and other media organizations. Special efforts were made to organize press
conferences and day- to-day media briefings for the two camp sittings and open
hearings organized bythe NHRC.The media was also invited to be part of all
important national level conferences, seminars and workshops.In addition, the
Unit referred 208 press clippings for suo motu cognizance to the Commission on
the basis of media reports about various human rights violations.
2.11 In addition, the Unit published a monthly “Human Rights Newsletter”,
in English and in Hindi, giving an insight into various significant activities
undertaken by the Commission, circulating it to important stakeholders of the
Government, academia, non-governmental organizations and civil society.
Number and Nature of Complaints
2.12 As in the past, the Commission continued to receive complaints from
different parts of the country on a wide range of issues where rights of the people
had been violated or negligence was shown by a public servant in the prevention
of such violations. These complaints included cases alleging custodial deaths,
torture, fake encounters, police high-handedness, violations committed by
security forces, conditions relating to prisons, atrocities committed on women
and children and other vulnerable sections, communal violence, bonded and child
labour, non-payment of retrial benefits, negligence by public authorities, etc. The
Commission furthermore took cognizance of the intimations received regarding
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