KOCHI: National Human Rights Commission Chairman A.S. Anand said here on Saturday that both the State and the Union Governments had failed to protect the economic, social and cultural rights of the citizens of the country.

He was delivering a talk on `Human Rights, Challenges of the Twenty First Century,' after inaugurating the office of the V.R. Krishna Iyer National Foundation for Law and Social Justice.,

The former Chief Justice of India said basic human rights in our country were still hampered by rampant corruption and abject poverty. Eradication of poverty and provision of health care and education were necessary for any civilised nation. But, unfortunately, even after more than half a century of Independence, our country stands only on the fringe on all three counts.

Dr. Anand said the need of the hour was to recognise that corruption-free governance was a basic human right. Kerala Human Rights Commission Chairman and former Kerala High Court Judge N. Dinakar released a book, `Justice Krishna Iyer at 90,' edited by V.R.K. Foundation secretary M.P.R. Nair, by handing over a copy to G. Sreekumar, president, Kerala High Court Advocates' Association.

A message from the former Supreme Court judge and chief patron of the Foundation K.T. Thomas was read out at the function.

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