National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to Maharashtra government over the reported plight of women labourers engaged in sugarcane cutting for the factories in Ahmed Nagar district. It has called for a detailed report within four weeks. NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the plight of women labourers engaged in cutting the sugarcane for several sugar factories at Srigonda Tehsil of Ahmed Nagar. Ten per cent of them are pregnant but unaware of their lawful rights and the benefits ensured under various government schemes. They are not granted any maternity leaves and child care facilities and no healthy diet is provided to them by the departments concerned.<br />''<br />''The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of human rights violations of women labourers. It said it is the prime duty of the State to safeguard the lawful rights of the vulnerable sections of society. <br />''<br />''<br />