Priyank Kanoongo Named NHRC Member

New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) President Droupadi Murmu has named Priyank Kanoongo as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), according to an official announcement released on Monday.

This appointment received the official nod from President Murmu on Saturday, as per the statement.

Kanoongo, based in Bhopal, was previously a member of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) from 2015 to 2018.

From 2019 to 2024, he held the position of Chairperson at the NCPCR.

The NHRC is composed of a Chairperson, five full-time members, and seven deemed members.

The governing statute outlines the qualifications required for the appointment of the Chairperson and members of the Commission.

Established on October 12, 1993, the NHRC operates under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993, which was later amended by the Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006.

This framework aligns with the Paris Principles, which were adopted during the inaugural international workshop on national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights in Paris in October 1991, and subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations through its Resolution 48/134 on December 20, 1993.

Earlier on Monday, the NHRC hosted an open house discussion focusing on the rights of gig workers in a hybrid format in New Delhi.

The discussions were segmented into three technical sessions: 'Informality of the Gig workers social security benefits and their legal ambiguity', 'Deprivation of health, mental health, safety and security of gig workers', and 'Gender disparity and financial instability for women gig workers'.

During her keynote address, NHRC Acting Chairperson Vijaya Bharathi Sayani emphasized the necessity for targeted strategies through regulatory frameworks to tackle challenges faced by gig workers, including long working hours, financial pressures, and physical exhaustion.

She highlighted that over 83 percent of app-based drivers work more than 10 hours each day, contributing to their physical and mental strain, exacerbated by policies promoting '10-minute deliveries' and unrealistic targets that can lead to preventable accidents.

Women encounter additional obstacles such as safety concerns, irregular schedules, and physical demands, which hinder their participation and raise significant issues regarding their well-being, Sayani stated.

NHRC Secretary General Bharat Lal emphasized the importance of monitoring the enforcement of laws like the Social Security Code 2020 and various labor laws to safeguard gig workers' interests.

He also pointed out that states like Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand are making strides in providing social security for gig workers, but further measures are necessary to address other critical issues such as health insurance, minimum wages, and the creation of stress-free working conditions that uphold their dignity.