Bhopal, May 1: Chairman of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari has said that public-oriented service facilities can be effectively implemented with the cooperation of elected people's representatives and public participation. Dharmadhikari said this at the inaugural session of two-day workshop on 'Role of NGO's in protection and strengthening of human rights' here. The workshop is being organised by Delhi-based institution 'Pairvi' with the cooperation of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission. Those specially present on the occasion included Chairperson of Madhya Pradesh Women's Commission Ms Krishnakanta Tomar, Chief Information Commissioner P.P. Tiwari, Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission member duo Narayan Singh Azad and Vijay Shukla, Principal Secretary Dr A.N. Asthana, Additional Director General of Police Surendra Singh, D.I.G. Su Anuradha Shankar Singh.

Dharmadhikari said that sovereignty rests with masses in a democracy, but the cultured society must ponder over the fact as to how far a common man is able to exercise his independence in true sense. He said that it is being heard that the powers to consider public interest litigation are being withdrawn from courts. He said that if this happened then before whom a common man would lay bare his woes. Dharmadhikari said that voluntary organisations can provide services in education/training of deprived children, rehabilitation of juvenile criminals, conduct of old age homes, assistance to women affected by domestic violence. Dharmadhikari said that gross violation of human rights is being witnessed in these areas. He said the human rights are also violated in those government works which are not successfully implemented. He said that N.G.O's must lead in social service sector after deciding their priorities. Dharmadhikari said that though many laws are enacted in the public interest, but it takes long to chalk out strategy to implement them. Society and government should abandon the tendency of acting at the eleventh hour.

Justice Narayan Singh 'Azad' said that honorary Commission Friends have been appointed by M.P. Human Rights Commission at Tahasil and district levels. They are working just like N.G.O.'s and there working has been remarkable. He said that Commission Friends are also playing an important role in creating mass awareness against domestic violence.

Chief Information Commissioner P.P. Tiwari said that after implementation of Right to Information Act, arbitrary style of functioning at government and administrative levels has been checked to a considerable extent. He said that right to information gives opportunity to people to lead life with dignity. Tiwari said that still he receives a lot of the complaints about bid to suppress information by administrative circles. He exhorted N.G.O.'s to assist rural people in safeguarding their rights. At the outset of the function, office-bearer of 'Pairvi' Ajay Jha threw light on workshop's objectives. After inauguration, group discussions of N.G.O.'s were held where D.I.G. Anuradha Shankar Singh replied to N.G.O.'s queries about functioning of police.