Annual Report 2010-2011 1.6 The protection and promotion of civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights remained to be the central focus of the Commission during the period under review. On all of these matters, the views and actions of the Commission have been detailed out in the chapters that follow. These chapters deal, inter alia, with range of civil liberties, including protection of human rights in areas affected by terrorism and militancy; custodial violence and torture including deaths in custody and ‘encounter’; and conditions in prisons. The report also deals with issues such as the right to health; the right to food; the right to education; the rights of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and other vulnerable groups; the rights of women and children; the rights of elderly persons, the right to environment; the effort to generate human rights awareness and literacy; and role played by it to encourage the efforts of State Human Rights Commissions and non-governmental organizations. In addition, the Report deals with the subject of human rights defenders so as to ensure appropriate action on the complaints addressed to it. Each of the above issues dealt with in the current Annual Report also covers human rights violation cases addressed to it. 1.7 The PHRA is premised on the mutually reinforcing character of the efforts that are to be made by the Commission and by the Governments, both at the Centre and in the States. A ‘unity of minds’ of all concerned is therefore required to ensure that there is better protection of human rights in the country. It is with this mission the Commission dedicates this Annual Report to the people of India, and submits it to the Central Government and the State Governments to place before each House of Parliament and concerned Legislative Assembly, in accordance with Section 20 (2) of the PHRA. (K. G. Balakrishnan) Chairperson (G.P. Mathur) Member 31 March 2011 New Delhi  NHRC (B.C. Patel) Member (Satyabrata Pal) Member (P.C.Sharma) Member