Gujarat lawyer's 25,000 kites to highlight human rights

Gandhinagar, Jan 7 (IANS) An Ahmedabad-based lawyer has prepared about 25,000 kites to distribute in various cities of Gujarat to create awareness among people about human rights.

Advocate Rajendra Shukla, who is attached with an NGO, Yogkshem Foundation, said Friday that the kites would be distributed among the poor and in slums to create rights awareness.

Gujarat is well known for its kite flying festival 'Uttarayan' celebrated Jan 14 when the rest of the country marks 'Makar Sankranti'.

Shukla said his effort is to make people aware of their rights and those of others tshrough the kites. 'It happens so often that people don't even know about their own rights as well as those of others. This effort would send a message in society, especially people living in slums, about their rights,' he said.

The 25,000 kites display various types of messages - on human rights, fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, equality, right to follow any religion, freedom of speech and expression, right to livelihood etc.

The kites also display the addresses where the human rights commissions of the state or centre can be approached.

Displaying the rights of senior citizens, the kites highlight their right to maintenance from their children and where they could complain about any grievance.

Mentioning child rights, some kites stress the necessity of primary education, child labour being an offence under law, and need for juvenile justice for abandoned children.

For women, the kites have messages on their right to equality, right to alimony, and protection against domestic violence.


(2011-1-7/sify)