J&K gets first helpline for rights plaints

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 21

Voice for Rights, an NGO, formally launched J&K’s first helpline named ‘Dial for Protection’ for reporting the human rights violations, at Amar Singh Club here today.

Minister of Social Welfare Sajjad Gani Lone was the chief guest on the occasion while Jammu Divisional Commissioner MK Bhandari was the guest of honour.

While unveiling the number 1800-1800-304, Lone said it was indeed a great initiative and social work needs compassion.

“It is a great pleasure to be here for the inauguration of this project. This particular NGO approached me and I found it to be a very good initiative,” Lone said, adding that the involvement of NGOs in rectifying and fighting against social issues was indeed a good sign. He added that across the world people were suffering due to the human rights, especially child rights, violations.

“As our country grows economically, human rights violations hamper its progress. It is an important step that the NGOs are coming up with such projects,” he said, adding that the biggest problem was selective definition of ‘wrong’.

“A wrong is a wrong... be it in Delhi, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir or any part of the world. I am very happy that an NGO came up with a stringent and unambiguous definition of wrongs,” he said, adding that being a part of the social welfare department, he believes that such initiatives on the part of the NGOs were much needed.

Earlier, giving details about the project, Voice for Rights chairperson Deepika Singh Rajawat, advocate, said ‘Dial for Protection’ would start working from the Jammu province and will eventually venture into other parts of the state.

“As J&K is believed to be a conflict-ridden state, wherein conflict holds the prime position due to which social issues, including general human rights violations, remained unattended,” she said, adding that this helpline would help in highlighting the issues pertaining to the human rights violations and will save/help victims from getting further victimised by providing them timely legal and other assistance.