The office of the program coordinator, National Service Scheme (NSS) held the 2^nd One Day Camp Session on ‘Human Rights’ on 18^th of March, 2021 at  Gandhi Bhavan,University of Kashmir. A total of 50 volunteers from Government Degree College, Ganderbal, Government Degree College, Pattan, Government Degree College Tangmarg, Government Degree College, D. H. Pora, Kulgam, Government College for Women, Zakura-Batpora, Government Degree College, Chari Sharief and four NSS units of University of Kashmir participated in the program.

The day-long program had the following components:

1.         Brief Inaugural function

2.         Technical Session I

3.         Technical Session II

4.         Lunch

5.         Declamation Competition on the theme of Human Rights

The focus of the program was sensitisation of NSS volunteers towards human rights who in turn would sensitise other members of the community to human rights.

The Inaugural function of the program was attended by Mr. Desh Raj from the Regional Directorate of NSS, New Delhi, Dr. Musavir Ahmed, Program Coordinator, NSS, University of Kashmir, among others. The program began with a  welcome address by Dr. Musavir who spoke about the significance of  camp sessions on Human Rights and the need to hold more of such programs in colleges and schools. Mr. .Desh Raj from the Regional Directorate of NSS, New Delhi, gave an overview of the constitutional provisions in his special remarks.

In the first technical session, Dr. Heena Basharat, Assistant Professor, School of law, University of Kashmir deliberated on international humanitarian law. She delineated on the scope and applicability of international humanitarian law. The international conventions relevant to the field were also discussed.

This session was followed by a screening of a documentary on Tosamaidan. The documentary highlighted the impact of human cost arising out of the opening of the erstwhile firing range to the members of the general public. This award-winning documentary has been produced by the EMMRC, University of Kashmir.

The speaker for the second technical session was Ms. Tabasum Qadir Parray, Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board. The theme of her lecture was ‘Child Rights’. She highlighted the need for fostering respect for human rights of children and also demonstrated the practical problems encountered while implementing the rights of the children in general and juveniles in particular.

Towards the conclusion of the program, a selected group of volunteers, whose names were forwarded by their respective program officers, participated in the Declamation Competition. The topic of the competition was “Human Rights and our Responsibilities as Responsible Citizens”. The declamation competition was adjudged by Ms. Saima, Assistant Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir and Ms. Shazia Malik, Assistant Professor, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Kashmir..In all 22 volunteers participated in the competitions. The following volunteers won the first three positions:

Towards the close of the program a valedictory cum certificate distribution function was held. The valedictory and prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Professor Parvez Ahmad, Head Department of History, University of Kashmir and Professor S. M. Afzal Qadri, ex Dean and Head, School of Law. Prof. Qadri threw light on the legal framework available for Human Rights and the lacunae therein. Dr.Waqar Amin, program officer NSS presented the vote of thanks. The winners were awarded cash prizes along with certificates.