The Indira Gandhi National Open University’s (IGNOU’s) School of Law (SOL) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organized third three-day Training of Trainers programme (TOT) on Human Rights for police personnel at the IUC Lab, IGNOU, main campus, in the capital.
The three-day training programme was attended by 26 police officials from all over the country. The main objective of this workshop was to sensitize the police functionaries on Human Right principles and values.
Jaideep Singh Kochher, Joint Secretary, NHRC, in his welcome address expressed the need to share these training sessions in their respective states in order to facilitate learning. He also mentioned that apart from attending to the complaints of the public, NHRC also has an important role of creating awareness about human rights.
Talking about the online delivery of this programme, Prof. Uma Kanjilal, IGNOU, mentioned that this is an online training programme which can be accessed easily by any police personnel from anywhere. The training manual (print/online) has been developed by IGNOU and NHRC. The online units are made interactive and are designed using multimedia approach, with the technical support of E-gyankosh.
She also apprised the trainers about three platforms through which they would be trained. There will be animated characters based delivery of the programme, web conferences and usage of software called ‘Moodle’. She further explained them about the modes of delivery which depends upon the kind of infrastructure available to the cops in their respective states.
Mamta Singh, DIG, NHRC in her remarks mentioned that the objective of the programme is to reverse the image of cops from violators to defenders by involving major strength of police and providing them the podium.
Prof K. Elumalai, Director, SOL, IGNOU, in his introductory address mentioned that the training programme will cover aspects like protection of human rights, police and human rights, NHRC and its complaint management system, custodial justice, human rights best practices and Convention Against Torture (CAT).
The participants in addition will be exposed to extensive hands on practice with computer. The expected outcome of this programme is to bridge the gap between police and the common people, sensitize police officials towards the human rights issues, create a force of self regulated and informed police officials and to find out the practical difficulties faced by police officials in implementing law keeping with human rights issues at the fore.
