Thirteen Non-Govemmental Organizations 13.1 The work cf non-governmental organisations (NGGs) is essential to the empowerment of evil society. It is for this reason that the National Human Rights Commission is called upon by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 [Section 12(1)] to 'encourage the efforts of non-governmental organisations and institutions working in the field of human rights'. 13.2 In order to ororaote this objective more comprehensively, the Commission is planning to set-up an 'NGO—Liaison and Service' unit under its Projects and Programmes Division. The idea is to create a database of active and credible NGOs in the field of human rights and o promote networking amongst them and the Commission. 13.3 Non-governmental organisations continued to be the eyes and ears of the (Commission, great y facilitating its work and also serving as its sharpest critics. Ties with NGOs continued tc proliferate all over the country, in fields as varied as matters relating to human rights complaints, human rights education, research, counselling and practical programmes for groups whose human rights were in Jeopardy or needing promotion or protection. 13.4 It was heartaiing to observe that the number of NGOs in regular contact with the Commission has continued to increase, as indicated in the growing list of NGOs maintained by the Commissior. 'I"his list has helped the Commission in its work in diverse parts of the country, when it has, time and again, needed to seek the help of local NGOs. 13.5 For its part, the Commission has also continued to assist NGOs and others in organizing programmes of relevance to human rights, providing modest fmancial support when appropriate. Amongst those assisted in the course of the year were the Indian Society of Internitional Law, New Delhi, which received a grant of Rs. 25,000/for starting a Post-graduate Diploma Course in Human Rights and International Humanitarian and Refugee Law; the Centre of Concern for Child Labour, Delhi, was given Rs. 25,000/- :br organizing a workshop on 'Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour: New Global Cause', held on 28-29 October 1999. The University of Pune was given Rs. 50,000/- for organizing a three day national seminar on Human Rights and the CriminalJustice System in India, in March 2000. Ilie Indian Law Institute, New