The world is witnessing an unprecedented surge of human consciousness in recognition of the worth of individuals, groups and regions. This is clearly discernible in India as there are growing assertions for the rights of all human beings to dignity, livelihood and appropriate conditions for realizing their creative potentiality. The people’s movements, the experience of parliamentary democracy, expansion of education and communication as well as the process of economic development have vastly redefined the form and content of rights of people.

This document designed as a handbook for social activists, scholars and administrators or anyone trying to defend a right, provides social category-wise listing and cross-listing of people’s rights in India as recognized under constitutional provisions, legislations, judicial decisions, international instruments, government policies, and relevant institutions.

Contents

Foreword by D. Bandopadhyay

Acknowledgements

Acronyms

In Pursuit of People’s Rights: An Introduction by Manoranjan Mohanty        

1.    Dalits (Scheduled Castes)

Introduction by K.B. Saxena

2.    Adivasis (Scheduled Tribes)

Introduction by K.B. Saxena

3.    Fisher People

Introduction by Gilbert Sebastian

4.    Other Backward Classes (OBCs)

Introduction by Prashant Kumar Trivedi

5.    Women

Introduction by Sindhu Nambiath

6.    Children

Introduction by Sindhu Nambiath

7.    Minorities

Introduction by Riaz Ahmad

8.    Physically/Mentally Challenged

Introduction by Nikhil Jain

9.    Senior Citizens

Introduction by N.J. Kurian

10.  Displaced People

Introduction by K.B. Saxena

11.  Stateless People

12.  Labour

Introduction by Lakshmidhar Mishra

13.  Rural Labour/Rural Poor

14.  Urban Poor

Introduction by N.J. Kurian

15.  Farmers and Farm Labourers

Introduction by T. Haque

16.  Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI) People

17.  Prisoners

18.  Consumers

Introduction by N.J. Kurian

19.  Citizens’ Civil Liberties

Introduction by Manoranjan Mohanty

20.  Extraordinary Laws in India: TADA, POTA, AFSPA and UAPA

Introduction by Ujjwal Singh

Appendix

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1948)

Social Category-wise Listing of Indian Legislations on People’s Rights

List of Select International Human Rights Instruments

People’s Rights Organizations: Indian and International

Human Rights Institutions: Indian and International

Human Rights Council of the United Nations