Former Prez Kovind to address NHRC’s 32nd foundation day

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will celebrate its 32nd foundation day with a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan on October 16, where former President Ram Nath Kovind will attend as the chief guest and deliver the inaugural address.Established on October 12, 1993, the NHRC has played a pivotal role in promoting human rights, driving policy reforms, and strengthening transparent governance. Over the past 32 years, the Commission has handled more than 23.79 lakh cases, including 2,981 taken up suo motu, and recommended monetary relief exceeding ₹263 crore in nearly 8,924 cases of human rights violations.

In the past year alone, from October 2024 to September 2025, the Commission registered 73,849 complaints and initiated 108 suo motu cases, underscoring its continued vigilance in protecting citizens’ rights.

The anniversary event will be presided over by NHRC Chairperson Justice (retd) V. Ramasubramanian, with Commission members Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Priyank Kanoongo, and Secretary General Bharat Lal also in attendance.

As part of the celebrations, the NHRC will host a day-long national conference on *Human Rights of Prison Inmates*, bringing together representatives from the judiciary, Union ministries, state governments, academia, civil society, and human rights defenders to deliberate on issues concerning the welfare and dignity of prisoners.

So far, the NHRC has issued 31 advisories addressing a wide range of concerns — from child sexual abuse material (CSAM), rights of widows, beggars, and informal workers, to mental health, transgender welfare, environmental protection, and ensuring the dignity of the dead.

Among its major interventions, the Commission has also recommended amendments to 97 discriminatory laws affecting persons with Hansen’s disease, reaffirming its role in promoting justice and equality.

With three decades of advocacy and oversight, the NHRC continues to underscore the importance of fairness, transparency, and accountability in upholding the rights and dignity of every individual.