Mega legal service camp at Kiphire benefits many
Morung Express News
Kiphire | October 31
The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority and Kiphire District Legal Services Authority in collaboration with the District Administration, Governmental Departments, stakeholders and NGOs organized the Mega Legal Services Camp at the Local Ground, Kiphire Town on October 31.
The role of NSLSA as a facilitator to show cases the various schemes and programmes of the department.
Neiko kanuo NJS, Registrar, Gauhati high Court, Kohima Bench in his inaugural speech said that in the olden days people regarded crimes as “sin and fear.” He appraised that no one have the right to kill which is punishable by law and said “a person who is guilty has the right to defend and entitled to legal aid if he/she cannot afford a Lawyer.”
Stating that “everyone should get justice and no one should be left behind”, the Registrar added, “in order to access justice for the welfare of the people, the Parliament had passed Legal Services Authority Act in the year 1987.” Every district has own Legal Services under the umbrella of the National legal Services Authority. The Panel Lawyers and the Para Legal Volunteers are appointed by the state as well as in the districts to assist the people in need of legal care. Panel lawyers are usually appointed to take up the Court based activities for free.
He also stressed on the importance of Lok Adalat which is inexpensive and for speedy trial. He appealed to the departments to create awareness on various Central as well as state centric schemes to the deserving beneficiaries. He encouraged availing Free Legal Services of Panel Lawyers and for the aggrieved persons without lawyer.
Every district has their own front office where the beneficiaries can avail legal aid; free Counselling, advice on governmental schemes etc. He also said that women, children, disabled persons can avail free legal aid anytime.
He stressed on the importance of creating awareness on the Village Council Act, its power and functions for proper administration of village development and programs. He also said that in order to have effective governance, the executive, Legislature and judiciary must co-exist together and work hand in hand. He concluded his speech by encouraging the people to co-operate and help each other for the betterment of the society.
Paradigm shift from legal awareness to empowerment
Delivering the keynote address during the event was Mezivolu T Therieh, Member Secretary, said that with the declaration of Kiphire as the Aspirational District, the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority is happy to join hands with the governmental departments and other stake holders to have this Mega Legal Services Camp to take the district forward.
She said that when the legal services authority has been looking at the paradigm shift from legal awareness to legal empowerment, the state govt through its Chief Secretary and Commissioner Nagaland has given full support in coordinating and issuing necessary directives to its nodal departments and district administration to participate in this Mega Legal Services Camp.
She said it is a programme of reaching out to the people through its door to door campaign so that the welfare benefits meant for the people reaches them. She thanked all the state and district officers for given their best in highlighting their departmental schemes to the people.
Common man must understand their rights and entitlements
In his short speech, Reny Wilfred, IAS, ADC Kiphire, Nagaland said that the common man must be made to understand what are their rights and entitlements and the responsibilities of each departments and institutions to avail such rights to the beneficiaries. He stressed on the benefits through the Mega Legal Services Camp at Kiphire district and to collaborate with District Legal Services Authority to conduct minicamps in the near future. He also appreciated the District Legal Services Authority for organising the Mega Legal Camp which will immensely benefit the common people and stated that this mega camp be the beginning of the undertaking for the welfare of the people.
Setsathong, Project Director, DRDA delivering his short speech said that every recognised Village should have a Council Chairman and its members. He says the Village Councils as well as the members should organise a general meeting with the public in order to sensitize the public about the different schemes in the Centre as well as in the states. To include women in the Village level development Committees such as VEC, WATSAN, MNREGA and VDBs and also to empower the youths and children as provided under various schemes by the Government.
The inaugural programme was chaired by Asst. Public Prosecutor Sentila Aier and welcome address was pronounced by Chief Judicial Magistrate & Secretary Kiphire DLSA. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Limasenla Longkumer, Project Coordinaor, NSLSA. The Baptist Youth Endeavour Kiphire Town Baptist Lithro presented a folk song for the inaugural programme. More than 3500 were benefited during the camp through Aadhaar registration and correction, schemes Under Labour department, issuance of Birth Certificates, Bank Account opening, Free medical camp and issuance of disability certificates and registration of old age, disabled scholarship and schemes for widow and destitute women.
More than 500 free affidavits were issued for name change and corrections by the panel lawyers during the camp.
