The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Thursday called on state governments to set up human rights bodies on a priority basis and ensure they are financially independent.

Apart from the NHRC in Delhi, there are 14 state human rights commissions functioning in the country. Though the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka governments notified the setting up of human rights bodies, they have not yet taken off.

In a meeting Thursday, the NHRC reminded the state governments that it was their "primary responsibility" to protect human rights.