The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance over media reports related to the death of six labourers inside a coal mine and directed the State government to grant interim relief to the next of kin of the deceased victims.
Six labourers were killed when the crane box, used to go down a deep pit, snapped and broke apart, taking the migrant workers down a 100-feet deep mine at Deiñchalalu near Rymbai in East Jaiñtia Hills on January 21. All the workers who lost their lives in the accident were from Barak Valley in Assam.
The MHRC also took up other two reports published in the Highland Post in 2020 related to a pregnant woman who was denied admission in two hospitals in Jowai including that of a fisherman electrocuted by low hanging wire.
In both the cases, the MHRC has issued notice to the Chief Secretary to cause an enquiry, the report of which are to be submitted to the commission within 30-45 days.
It may be mentioned that two hospitals, the Dr Norman Tunnel Hospital and the Jowai Civil Hospital allegedly refused to admit a pregnant woman on September 24, 2020. The woman had to travel to Shillong with the help of a Good Samaritan from Lumshnong, Shemphang Bamon who got her admitted at the Ganesh Das Hospital where she delivered a healthy baby.
On October 3, 2020 a 48-year old fisherman from Shyamding under Phulbari in West Garo Hills district lost his life when he accidentally touched an extremely low hanging high tension electric wire while fishing on the Shyamding Bil (lake) by the Brahmaputra River.
“The Commission observes that the matter raises serious issues of violation of human rights as the State authorities have failed to ensure the Right to Life and Medical Care to its citizens, which is a fundamental right and it is the paramount duty of the State to protect and safeguard such rights of any individual,” the MHRC said.
The rights panel also reminded the provisions of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution which mandates for protection of life and personal liberty for every person.
