MON, May 17 (MExN): The Mon District Legal Services Authority (MDLSA) organised a legal literacy programme at Hongpoi Village on May 17. The programme was attended by village council members, church leaders and students of Hongphoi and Wangla village, a press release informed.
Speaking on Village Council Act and Consumer Rights, Moba Konyak, Panel Lawyer MDLSA apprised on The Nagaland Village and Area Councils Act 1978 and highlighted the powers and duties of the act. According to the Act, the village council shall formulate village development schemes, to supervise proper maintenance of water supply, roads, forests, sanitation, education and other welfare activities.
Moba stated that the village council should help various government agencies in carrying out development works in the village and also take development works on its own initiative or request the government.
He further said that apart from facilitating financial aid, the village council should also constitute village development board and has the power to do certain Acts; for e.g. in the event of an epidemic outbreak, the village council can initiate preventive measures.
Speaking on child labour and women rights, Mannon, Panel Lawyer MDLSA, said that the constitution not only grants equality to women but also empowers the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women. She added that within the framework of democratic polity- laws, development policies, plan and programme are aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres.
Mannon further stated that there are constitutional provisions, legal provisions and women’s right for protection under criminal law of India such as compensation to rape victims, special laws for protection of women, marital rights, maintenance rights and women’s right to property and succession under law applicable to Christians.
She also highlighted special initiatives for women such as National Commission for women, reservation for women in local self-government, the National Plan of Action for Girl Child (1991-2000) and National Policy for the Empowerment of Women, 2001.
Speaking on RTI Act and Arms Act, Dominic Kaiba APP apprised that The Right to Information Act, 2005 provides citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authorities in order to promote transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority.
