By TCN News,
New Delhi: Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association got the National Confederation of Human Rights Organization’s (NCHRO) Mukundan C Monon Memorial Award which is awarded to human right activists annually.
National Minority Commission Chairperson Wajahat Habibullah said that Mukundan C Menon, who was in consistent struggle for the rights of Dalits, Adivasis and minorities was a great patriot, while inaugurating the award ceremony NCHRO.
The award for 2013 was conferred upon the Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JATSA) for its meticulously researched reports on the misuse of power by the law enforcing agencies and the gravity of such violations in the use of draconian laws like UAPA have proved to be a powerful tool in the hands for human right campaigners in the country.
“The books produced by the JTSA are the model for the human rights activists who conduct similar work in the country, for their clarity, objectivity and irrefutable presentation of the facts. NCHRO looks upon the JTSA to continue its good work in the coming years and this award is conferred upon it in recognition of its great work in the cause of human rights in India,” a statement by NCHRO said.
President of JTSA Manish Sethi received the award from National Minority Commission Chairperson Wajahat Habibullah.
While inaugurating the award ceremony NCHRO, Habibullah said that Mukundan C Menon, who was in consistent struggle for the rights of Dalits, Adivasis and minorities was a great patriot.
“Menon took his struggle to Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Bihar, Gujarat and Kerala, he had to experience imprisonment. We have to remember Mahatma Gandhi who had to go jail for the freedom of the country and it is as the result of their dreams that we finally got freedom. The fights Mukundan C Menon should also be regarded as high as that. “Such fights should still continue” he added
“After TADA and POTA, UAPA is a repressive law being used by the government to oppress the people on their democratic right as well as political right. It is being used mostly against minority youths and also being used as a political tool against their political opponent, to repeal this repressive law like UAPA there is a need of broad based movement by the people,” Manisha Sethi said, after receiving the award on behalf of JTSA.
Advocate Muhamed Yusuf, NCHRO National Secretary said, “Mukundan C Menon was a great catalyst to the human right activist. Through this award in the name of Mukundan C Menon we want to inculcate the idea and dream of Menon in the field of human rights and among the activists to work for it.”
Mukundan C Menon Award is given to honour the memory of late Mukundan C Menon, the veteran journalist, human rights defender and the first General Secretary of NCHRO. The award was established in 2006 soon after his death on Dec 12, 2005. It is given annually to human rights defenders, environmental activists, victims of rights violations, artists, journalists, writers and activists involved in the defense of human and civil rights.
RK Ankodia (President NCHRO Rajasthan), Mahtab Alam (social activist) also spoke in the programme.