by approaching a competent High Court, the latter not only chastised the State authorities, but increased the compensation end ordered costs to the Commission. But the challenge of scale and the follow-up of caws and decisions requires that a great deal be done to estrtMlsh an efflcjentand decentralized system across the country to meet the growing expsctatlan for the wift and just redrew1 of human rights grievances. 2.9 2.10 One abvlous answer lies In the early setting-up of State Human Rights Commissions, as envisaged in the Protection of Human Flights Act itself. AB yet, only 0 8tates have done so and 3 more haw announced their intention to do so. Thls laawa the m4orfty of States without such Cornmlseions, lncludlng those like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, whlch flood the National Human Rights Commission with complaints. The Chairpereon has written to all concerned Chief Ministers in respect of this matter and reminded many of them frequently. But greater political will Is required at the State-hel, combined with enmumgemant from the Central Government and the major polltical parties, to procaed condusiwly In this direction. The Commission recommends that this shwld be a matter of the highest priority for all concerned in the period ahead. For its part, It would be ready to share its experience and expertise, particularly in respect of complaints-handling procedures, with any State-level Commission that may so desire. The capecrty-building of the human rights mechanisms in the country is of utmost importance. Till such tlme as State-level Commissions are set-up, the National Commission must, itself, establish a limited number of regional offices that can function as extensions of its Headquarters. This would expedite the initial processing of complaints received by the Commission, especially in those States which contribute heavily to the work-load of the Commission. In addition, the Cmmisslon is already establishing Special Rapporteurs, Representatives and Consultants, for clearly defined purposes, to assist it in its out-reach across the country. The value of its partnership with a growing circle of non-governmental organisations cannot be over-estimated, or the contribution made by such groups to the cause of human rights. Clearty, this too, is an area of work that needs to be improved, systematized and strengthened. Good governance, and the full engagement of civil society, are essential to the cause of human rights. The Commission needs to do much to encourage the efforts of non-governmentalorganisations working in this field, as envisaged in Section 12(i) of its Statute. 2.1 1 Cruel and interlocking disparities persist, in all parts of the w r l d - as recent United Nations Human Development Reports have made clear in respect of five areas: in income and wealth distribution between individuals; between urban and rural areas; between regions, both within countries and globally; in gender Inequalities; in ethnic and group inequalitieswhich, 2.12 -