NHRC Member reviews human rights and welfare schemes

Ludhiana, March 10, 2026: Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Priyank Kanoongo on Tuesday reviewed the progress of various human rights and welfare schemes during a meeting with district administration officials here and issued key directions to strengthen implementation.
Presiding over the meeting with officials from multiple departments at Bachat Bhawan, Priyank Kanoongo reaffirmed the NHRC's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the human rights of every section of society. He emphasized that the Commission's core objective is to ensure effective protection of human rights for citizens across all categories.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioners Poonam Singh and Dr. Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM Kuldeep Bawa, Assistant Commissioner Payal Goyal, heads of various departments, police officials, representatives from the Jail Department, and others.
Focusing on child protection, Kanoongo directed the police department to mandatorily inform the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) about every FIR registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act within 24 hours. He highlighted that this provision is explicitly mentioned in the POCSO Act and stressed strict adherence to its guidelines to ensure prompt protection, care, and safeguarding of victims' rights. He further instructed the Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development to expedite the disbursement of financial assistance to rape victims from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. He also sought detailed information from the police department on the number of such rape cases registered in district.
The NHRC member reviewed initiatives under the Aajeevika Mission, including women's self-help groups, and gathered comprehensive updates on key central schemes such as PM Vishwakarma, Namaste Scheme, Mental Health Program, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Pre- and Post-Matric Scholarship Schemes, and Ayushman Bharat Yojana. He provided necessary instructions to officials for improved implementation and outreach.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonam Singh presented detailed information on the welfare schemes being rolled out in the district. She assured that the administration is committed to transparent governance and that no efforts are being spared to prioritize and uphold human rights at every level.