Telangana Legal Services Authorities Mark Legal Services Day With Awareness Programme, Emphasizing Free Legal Aid And Community Support Initiatives

The Telangana State Legal services Authority and District Legal Services authorities of Warangal and Hanumakonda conducted a Legal Awareness Programme on the Legal Services Day. The Legal Services Day is celebrated on 9th November, since the Legal Services authorities act came into force, to ensure equal justice to all the people of this country and providing competent free legal aid to all vulnerable and weaker sections of people.

Justice Sujoy Paul, Judge of High court of Legal Services Day and Executive chairman of Telangana state legal services authorities inaugurated the programme in the presence of Principal district & Sessions Judges of the Warangal and Hanumakonda districts; Member Secretary, Telangana SLSA, District Collectors, Commissioner of police, and members of District Bar Association.

The dignitaries urged the people to utilize the services of Legal service authorities act as it is free of cost and timely guidance is provided by the legal services institutions to anyone who approaches them. The District collectors explained the government schemes for the down trodden and assured that they were ready to work with the legal services authorities to reach out to people by rendering legal assistance. 

The Members Secretary of the Telangana SLSA, addressed the gathering and stated that the legal services institutions through the Para Legal volunteers help people and extend their support to resolve the issues. Further, requested the Asha workers and Anganwadi teachers to enrole themselves as Para Legal volunteers as they are the working force on the ground level. And therefore can identify child labour issues like child marriages in the society. As and when they notice child labour cases or child marriage cases, they can bring it to the knowledge of the police or legal service institutions. In that way they can help the children. The member secretary explained about who are the persons entitled to free legal aid from the legal services institutions and also the effect of the resolving the disputes through the Lok-adalat, uses of the Lok-adalat and alternative dispute resolution system.

Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya, Judge, Telangana High court, addressing the participants virtually said that legal services are essential for ensuring equality, dignity and fraternity among citizens as it aims to ensure justice for all regardless of their socio-economic status. She emphasized as to the establishment of Community Mediation centers in view of the rising of matrimonial disputes and to safeguard the marital institution.

Further, Justice Paul, distributed the cheques to the Self Help Group women sanctioned by the District Rural Development Agency.

The Department of Empowerment of person with disabilities, senior citizens and transgender persons, also sanctioned marriage incentives to the married couple. The marriage incentives are granted for a normal person married a disabled person. Further, the department also granted wheel chairs and Tri Cycles to the physically disabled persons and the same were handed over to the physically disabled persons. Further, computers were also distributed to the children of deaf and dumb for their education purpose sponsored by KSM foundation.

Mr. Namala Ashok, Special Magistrate 2nd class donated 25 Iron cots/beds to the children in conflict with law who are staying in the Observation home for boys at Warangal.

The programme was attended by the Anganwadi teachers, Asha workers, women from Self Help Goups, advocates of the Warangal and Huanumakonda bar associations, Law Students etc.