SHILLONG: Senior advocate and human rights activist Colin Gonsalves said on Saturday that the poor in the State are not getting food grain and other items against BPL ration cards leading to gross violation of fundamental rights.
Addressing media persons on Saturday at the state-level consultation on human rights, the founder of Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) said, “There seems to be a lot of corruption in the state and violation of fundamental rights.”
When asked how manipulations in the implementation of the Right to Food can be corrected, the Supreme Court advocate said the State Government is not sensitive to the problems of the poor and “it should be taught a lesson by approaching the High Court and the Supreme Court in the matter”.
“The strategy will be to seek legal aid in the High Court and even in the Supreme Court if necessary,” he added. Replying to a query, Gonsalves said HRLN is planning to form units in Shillong where lawyers will be trained for legal aid to poor, including filing of PILs. He added that the issue of disability is a major one in the State since the Government is not implementing the 3 per cent reservation quota for them.
