NHRC notice to UP Govt for ill health of children at official func

New Delhi, Mar 9 (UNI) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a showcause notice to the Uttar Pradesh government for its ''inhuman and callous'' attitude resulting in ill health of 49 children during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations.

Taking cognizance of a complaint, the Commission has asked the UP Chief Secretary and the Kanpur Administration, which had organised the function, for a factual report within four weeks.

''This indicates a total lack of care on the part of the administration for the health of the children and it is a case of blatant violation of Human Rights of Children,'' it said.

The Commission asked the UP officials why "interim relief" should not be recommended to the children who became unwell ''due to the irresponsible attitude of the local administration''.

According to the complaint, filed by Advocate Nivedita Sharma, during the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations in Kanpur, the 49 children, who were participating in the function, took ill as they had to wait for the Chief Guest in scorching heat without food and water for more than six hours.

The children were asked to gather at 0600 hrs for the function scheduled to start at 1000 hrs.

The Chief Guest, however, arrived at 1300 hrs while children were forced to sit in scorching heat without food or shelter.

As a result, many children fainted, the complaint said. It also said there was no arrangement for first-aid or transport at the venue and most parents had to shift their children to private nursing homes and hospitals.

On a notice of the Commission, the Kanpur ADM had submitted a joint inquiry prepared by the SSP and the DM, Kanpur.

The joint report said five doctors, two ambulances and four water tankers had been arranged to take care of the children.

The report also stated that 10,000 children had gathered in the open and some of them became unwell at 1045 hrs and 49 children were sent to hospital.

After going through the joint report, the Commission said the local administration had admitted that some children became unwell after more than four hours of being in heat yet no steps were taken to protect other children from the scorching sun.

The Commission said, following the condition of the children, the administration should have taken immediate measures to provide some relief to others who continued to sit in the sun for another three hours.

UNI