By Muslim Mirror News,
Guwahati, June 17: A two-day socio-legal training workshop organised by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) ended in the city on Sunday. The first day’s session on Saturday was held at Gouri Sadan, Dighalipukhuri East, while the second day’s session was conducted at the Islamic Centre at Sijubari-Hatigaon on Sunday. The objective of the workshop was to create awareness among common people how to go about in protecting their civil rights. NGO activists and common public from all districts of Assam took part in the workshop.
Convened by Abdur Rahman, the inaugural address on Saturday was delivered by Abdul Hamid, President JIH, NE Zone. Akhlaq Ahmed, Coordinator APCR, explained step-by-step the objectives of APCR in general and that of the workshop in particular. Shafi Madani, Secretary, JIH, conducted an elaborate and useful session on ‘Defending Civil & Human Rights – Islamic Perspective.’
Dr Shakeel coordinated a session on ‘Establishment of Justice and Protection of Civil Rights in India – present scenario’ which was convened by Omar Ali Ahmed. Akhlaq Ahmed conducted a discourse on ‘Understanding Criminal Justice System of India’ covering issues such as FIR, arrest, case, police station, jail, and court etc.
The highlights of the second day’s programme were a talk on ‘Sixth Schedule & its impact’ by Abdul Muhib Mazumdar, Chairman, Assam State Minorities Commission and another on ‘RTI Act 2005 – in defence of Civil Rights’ by Iltaf Hussain Borbora.
Mazumdar said that the provisions of the Sixth Schedule were drafted to give protection to smaller communities like Khasis, Garos, Nagas and Mizos etc when they constituted a part of Assam. But now when they have their own State the Sixth Schedule is redundant, who are they to be protected from? According to Mazumdar, “It is time that the Government does away with the Sixth Schedule. This will pave the way for a strong and unified India.”
There were other programmes in the workshop that dealt with communal riots, legal air, struggle for justice, AFSPA & Human Rights.