Former President of India Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday called attention to a new generation of human rights challenges arising from rapid technological advancements and climate change. Speaking at the 32nd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in New Delhi, Kovind emphasized that these transformations are reshaping the nature of vulnerability—particularly affecting workers in the informal sector and populations displaced by climate-induced disasters.

“India has made remarkable progress in protecting fundamental rights, but the landscape of human vulnerability is evolving fast,” Kovind said. “Rapid technological and environmental changes are leading to fresh human rights challenges that require urgent, collective action.”

Human Rights in the Informal Economy

Drawing attention to the plight of workers in the informal sector—who form nearly 80 percent of India’s labor force—Kovind stressed the urgent need for extending social protection and safe working conditions to this group. “Too often, informal sector workers endure unsafe working conditions, irregular incomes, and the absence of social protection,” he said. “Economic progress must not come at the cost of human dignity.”

He noted that while India’s economic expansion has created millions of jobs, most remain unregulated and outside the formal safety net. Kovind urged both state and industry stakeholders to ensure that basic entitlements like workplace safety, healthcare, and social security are made universal.

Climate Change as a Human Rights Imperative

Kovind underscored the far-reaching human consequences of climate change, describing it as “a human rights imperative, not just an environmental issue.” He warned that rising sea levels, desertification, and extreme weather events were not only destroying livelihoods but also displacing entire communities, creating what he termed “climate refugees.”

“Migration and displacement—whether caused by conflict, natural disasters, or economic distress—raise profound questions of human dignity,” he said. “Every person, regardless of their legal status, deserves identity, security, and access to essential services.”

He praised the NHRC for consistently pressing governments to ensure that displaced persons and undocumented migrants are not deprived of basic rights such as healthcare, education, and food security. He also called for closer coordination between central and state authorities to build long-term resilience for communities vulnerable to climate impacts.

Technology and Human Dignity

The former President also cautioned that the digital age, while empowering, carries significant ethical and human rights implications. Automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven governance, he noted, can either uplift societies or deepen inequality depending on how they are deployed. “Technology must remain a tool to enhance human welfare, not a means to exploit or marginalize,” he said.

Kovind urged policymakers to develop stronger safeguards around data privacy, algorithmic bias, and workplace automation, warning that unchecked technological expansion could exacerbate inequality. “The right to privacy and the right to dignity must not be undermined in the name of innovation,” he said.

Mental Health and the Right to Well-being

Highlighting mental health as one of the most neglected aspects of human rights, Kovind called for it to be recognized as a fundamental entitlement. “Mental health is intrinsic to the idea of human dignity,” he said. “We must end the stigma surrounding it and make care more accessible.”

He commended the NHRC’s advisories on community-based and inclusive mental healthcare, calling them “vital steps” toward ensuring that mental health services reach marginalized populations. “When we speak of human rights, we must remember that the right to a sound mind is as essential as the right to a sound body,” he said.

Human Rights and Prison Reform

The foundation day event coincided with a National Conference on the Human Rights of Prison Inmates, a theme Kovind described as a “true test of a society’s values.” He strongly condemned custodial violence and inhumane treatment, asserting that prisons should be “spaces of reform, rehabilitation, and hope,” not punishment alone.

“Any form of violence or inhumane treatment of persons in custody is against our constitutional and moral values,” Kovind said. “It is the sacred duty of prison authorities to ensure that every inmate is treated with the basic courtesies owed to every human being.”

He called for modernization of prison infrastructure, better training for personnel, and expansion of educational and vocational programs within prisons to prepare inmates for reintegration into society. “The success of a justice system must be measured not by the number of convictions but by the number of lives reclaimed,” he said.

Dignity as the Core of Human Rights

Throughout his address, Kovind repeatedly returned to the theme of human dignity as the cornerstone of all rights. He linked everyday issues like access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and safe housing directly to the affirmation of dignity—especially for women and girls.

“Providing clean water and toilets is not merely a developmental goal—it is a human rights responsibility,” he said. “When women and girls have to walk miles to fetch water or use unsafe sanitation facilities, their dignity and safety are at risk. This is where the idea of rights meets the reality of daily life.”

Kovind concluded his speech by calling on institutions like the NHRC to evolve in response to these emerging challenges. “The NHRC must remain not only the guardian of traditional rights but also the torchbearer for new rights that our changing world demands,” he said. “Technology, climate, and migration are reshaping humanity. Our response must be as humane as it is forward-looking.”

As India and the world confront the overlapping crises of inequality, climate disruption, and rapid digital transformation, Kovind’s remarks served as a timely reminder that human rights are not static—they evolve with the times. Upholding them, he said, requires not only laws and institutions but also compassion, foresight, and moral courage.