President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday addressed the Human Rights Day celebration organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi, stressing that universal human rights are inalienable and fundamental to building a just and equitable society.
President Murmu said that Human Rights Day serves as a reminder that every individual is born free and equal in dignity and rights. She highlighted India’s contribution to shaping the global human rights framework, noting the role of freedom fighters and drawing attention to Hansa Mehta’s contribution in ensuring the phrase “rights of all human beings” was included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The President underlined that human rights must reach people at the last mile in keeping with the principle of Antyodaya. She said inclusive development requires every citizen’s participation in the journey towards building a developed India by 2047.
President Murmu said human rights are embedded in the Constitution and extend to living without fear, accessing education, working without exploitation and ageing with dignity. She reiterated India’s position that human rights and development are interlinked, and that peace and justice cannot be separated.
The President noted that the NHRC, State Human Rights Commissions, judiciary and civil society have played an important role in safeguarding constitutional values. She highlighted NHRC’s recent focus on issues concerning Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, children and prison inmates.
She welcomed NHRC’s conference on “Ensuring Everyday Essentials,” aligned with this year’s UN theme, and appreciated the launch of the Commission’s mobile app, which aims to make the complaint mechanism more accessible and transparent.
President Murmu also referred to government initiatives over the past decade aimed at expanding access to essential services such as clean water, electricity, sanitation, housing, healthcare and education. She said these efforts mark a shift from entitlement to empowerment. She mentioned the construction of over 40 million houses for the poor, the public distribution system supporting about 800 million people, and the recent implementation of the four Labour Codes as steps towards improving livelihoods and workplace conditions.
Calling human rights protection a collective responsibility, President Murmu urged citizens to contribute to building a compassionate society. She said the journey toward a developed and socially just India requires active participation from all sections of society.
