As part of its ongoing efforts to sensitise and build the capacities of All India Services officers, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), launched a two-day training programme for the 2023 batch of Indian Forest Service (IFS) probationers in Dehradun.
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Inaugurating the programme, NHRC Chairperson Justice Mr. V. Ramasubramanian underscored the constitutional obligations laid out in Article 48A and Article 51A (g), highlighting the dual responsibility of the State and every citizen to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife. He emphasised that compassion for living beings must be a guiding principle in governance and civic life.
Evolution of Human Rights and Emerging Global Challenges
Justice Mr. Ramasubramanian offered a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution of human rights, tracing milestones from the Charter of Cyrus to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). He explained the categorisation of human rights into four generations—from civil-political to socio-economic and collective rights, extending to emerging concerns in technology, digital privacy, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability. He called for ethical vigilance as these challenges evolve.
Human Rights: Deeply Rooted in India’s Ethos, Says Mr. Bharat Lal
Delivering the keynote address, NHRC Secretary General Mr. Bharat Lal highlighted India’s robust institutional and constitutional commitment to human rights. He noted that India’s values of empathy, non-violence, and human dignity have long shaped its human rights discourse, referencing iconic reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Mr. Lal elaborated on how tools like Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, and judicial remedies through Articles 32 and 226 have empowered citizens. He stressed the significance of Public Interest Litigation in delivering justice to the vulnerable. He further urged IFS officers to actively involve tribal and forest-dwelling communities in environmental management to ensure inclusive and sustainable conservation.
NHRC’s Expanding Role in Rights Protection and Capacity Building
Mr. Bharat Lal highlighted the NHRC’s role as the apex human rights body, coordinating with State Human Rights Commissions and offering multilingual complaint mechanisms. The Commission also undertakes suo motu actions, field investigations through Special Rapporteurs, and conducts public outreach through open discussions, camp sittings, and internship programmes.
Integrating Human Rights into Environmental Governance
In his address, IGNFA Director Mr. Jagmohan Sharma outlined the programme’s objective to integrate human rights into environmental governance. He emphasised that the training will expose IFS probationers to best practices and key legislative frameworks for protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Expert-Led Sessions Across Diverse Themes
The training features 13 theme-based sessions led by eminent experts such as Mr. Rajiv Jain (Former NHRC Member), Mr. Rajiv Kumar (Former Chief Election Commissioner), Mr. Prasant Kumar (Member, CAT Srinagar), Dr. S. P. Yadav (DG, International Big Cats Alliance), and Ms. Sunita Narain (DG, Centre for Science and Environment), among others.
Part of a Larger Civil Services Sensitisation Initiative
This training programme follows similar NHRC-led sessions for Indian Police Service probationers at SVPNPA, Hyderabad, and for Indian Foreign Service trainees at the Sushma Swaraj National Institute of Foreign Service, New Delhi. NHRC Secretary General Mr. Bharat Lal also addressed foreign diplomats at the same venue, furthering the global perspective on human rights.
Through these initiatives, the NHRC continues to instil a strong foundation of human rights sensitivity among young civil servants, aiming to create long-term impact in governance and public service delivery.
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