Shillong: The Meghalaya Peoples’ Human Rights Council (MPHRC) joined the global community in observing International Human Rights Day 2025 under the theme “Our Everyday Essentials,” stressing that human rights remain fundamental to daily life. The organisation warned that despite the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — freedom, equality and justice for all — many in Meghalaya continue to face systemic discrimination, exclusion, and rights violations.
MPHRC Chairman Dino D.G. Dympep said indigenous communities are experiencing heightened threats including land dispossession, criminalisation and violence. He criticised extractive industry expansion — including uranium exploration — and major infrastructure projects for pushing ahead without respecting the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
Dympep added that Meghalaya’s goal of becoming a $10 billion economy by 2028 remains distant due to deep social inequalities and shrinking public participation in major developmental decisions. “Communities are being left out. Development must meet human rights standards and improve the well-being of all,” MPHRC said.
Raising alarm over collapsing public health systems, MPHRC stated that 42.3% of Meghalaya’s population remains outside adequate healthcare coverage and cited rising cases of medical negligence in both government and private hospitals. Such failures, the council said, amount to violations of human rights and could fall under criminal negligence.
As Human Rights Day is observed, MPHRC reaffirmed that every person — especially indigenous peoples — is entitled to the full spectrum of rights and that it is the responsibility of the state to uphold them.
The council urged the government to:
• Recognise universal human rights and the collective rights of indigenous peoples.
• Guarantee FPIC in all development projects.
• End criminalisation of citizens and rights defenders.
• Ensure access to justice and accountability for violators.
• Enable meaningful participation in governance.
• Protect civil society space and guarantee its role in development processes.
