KERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

NALSA – NEWS LETTER – JULY TO DECEMBER 2017

IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE LEGAL SERVICES INSTITUTIONS

IN THE STATE OF KERALA

LEGAL AID/SERVICES

During the year 2017, KeLSA had initiated several projects which would go a long way in strengthening the liaison with common people, thus facilitating the deserving persons to enjoy the benefits of legal services. 638 Legal Aid Clinics are functioning across the State under the auspices of DLSAs and TLSCs in association with courts, Local Self Government Institutions, Educational Institutions, NGOs, Hospitals, Jails etc. Legal Aid Clinics are intended to provide legal aid to the indigent and marginalized sections of the society. Basic legal services like legal advice and support in drafting of notices, reply to notices, applications, petitions etc are rendered through legal Aid Clinics. Special attention is taken in the case of under trial prisoners with the introduction of Under Trial Review Committee in all the districts. Details of legal aid provided are given below.

• 2517 legal awareness programmes/Camps were conducted throughout the State during the year benefitting 1008519 persons in addition to the listeners of Radio and viewers of television channels.

LEGAL AID CLINIC AT PAMBA, SABARIMALA, PANTHALAM TEMPLE AND AT VAIKKOM TEMPLE: The relevance of legal awareness programmes and services of Legal

Services Authorities could be reached out to the millions of pilgrims visited Sabarimala, by distributing pamphlets in different languages showcasing the activities of Legal Services Authorities and Mediation Centre, through about 100 PLVs engaged at the Legal Aid Clinics started at Pamba and Sannidhanam and at Panthalam temple during ‘Mandalam’ and ‘Makaravilakku’ season 2017-18. The Legal aid clinic at Pamba and Sannidhanam now functions in every Malayalam month when the shrine is opened at Sabarimala. A stall was set up during Vykathastami by TLSC Vaikom.

Pilgrims visiting legal aid clinic, Sabarimala

SUPPORT TO A SENIOR CITIZENS:

Support for Smt. Kali: Smt. Kali, aged 93 years was brutally harassed by her grandson Sri. Prasad.

Her condition was very pathetic The DLSA Pathanamthitta intervened in coordination with the

government departments concerned and NGOs and removed her to the Old age home.

Report in News Paper

Legal Services Clinic for Senior Citizens: DLSA Kottayam has opened a special Legal Services

Centre for Senior Citizens which is being used by the senior citizens to file complaints, petitions and to get awareness about beneficial Government Schemes. DLSA, Kottayam has taken the initiative to collect data of senior citizens through Janamaithri Police and conducted a special camp for Senior Citizens on 23.9.17 at Kumarakom. DLSA has addressed to provide special queue for senior Citizens in all Government Hospitals and to open a Geriatric Centre at the District Hospital. Awareness classes were arranged for Senior Citizens and had helped many of them to get pensions.

Special Lok Adalat: DLSA Thrissur organized a special Lok Adalat at Old age Home for inmates. PLVs were deputed to the Old age home for one month to try and find out issues to be addressed. . Thereafter Lok Adalat was conducted by coordinating all departments. Pension was sanctioned for 80 persons. 94 cases were settled. The attempt to find out relatives is in progress.

CLEAN DRIVE CAMPAIGN: This is a unique programme, conducted in association with the Department of Health. All the DLSAs conducted a Clean Drive Campaign in association with the Health service Department on 1st July 2017. A team consisting of the Secretary, DLSA and District Medical Officer other officials of DLSA and Health Services inspected public and private institutions on random basis. The general cleanliness of the institutions and surroundings were inspected. Necessary action was taken wherever necessary. NIRAMAYA INSURANCE CARD: Initiative was taken by all DLSAs to ensure that the persons with disabilities and covered by the National Trust Act, 1999 are enrolled in the NIRAMAYA health insurance scheme. The highlight of this campaign was that DLSA Pathanamthitta could collect 3000 applications from the beneficiaries and out of which 1500 Insurance cards were issued. The attempt is to bring as many beneficiaries as possible under the scheme. “SAKETHAM”- LEGAL ASSISTANCE ESTABLISHMENT [LAE] The LAE which is intended to work as a one stop centre for legal aid and support for socio- legal issues to the public at large, legal aid seekers, as a platform for under trial prisoners to communicate with their lawyers and members of family etc, was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Patron-in Chief and Hon’ble Executive Chairman KeLSA in the presence of the Hon’ble Executive Chairman, KeLSA and the Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee. There are regular legal aid seekers at the LAE. Effective publicity was given about LAE during the Connecting to Serve Nationwide campaign conducted from 9th November to 18th November 2017.

Inauguration of LAE by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Navaniti Prasad Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala and Patron –in- Chief, KeLSA on 15th August 2018 in the presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Antony Dominic, Executive Chairman, KeLSA and Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Surendra Mohan, Chairman, High Court Legal

Services Committee.

VENTURE TO COMPLETE MORE THAN 3500 UNFINISHED TRIBAL HOUSES. This was a headache for successive governments for last over a decade. DLSA Wayanad has taken over this issue with a plan to complete it with Corporate Social Responsibility fund. Now the Government has taken steps to include this in Life Mission Scheme of providing houses. This is an International model for legal services achievement to compel Government to take over a long neglected issue. LOW COST RAIN WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES AND FISH CULTURE: DLSA Wayanad has conducted one day training programme on two occasions, under the poverty alleviation and the scheme, on construction of low cost rain water harvesting structures and fish culture. This can produce about hundreds of tons of fish annually. 300 numbers task force has been trained to implement this throughout the district. MEDICAL CAMPS FOR LABOURERS OF UNORGANISED SECTORS: A programme organizes by DLSA Wayanad for unorganised labourers. More than 40 medical camps were conducted in various tribal settlements. Registration of unorganised labourers for various benefits also conducted collaborating with Labour Department. ‘AWAZ INSURANE SCHEME FOR MIGRANT LABOURERS: DLSAs have joined hands with the department of labour and the district administrations to help the migrant labourers to insure in the “AAWAZ” health insurance scheme. KELSA has taken a decision to coordinate various stake holders for the purpose of registration of migrant labourers in the Migrant Workers Welfare Fund Scheme. AADHAR ENROLMENT FOR UNKNOWN AND ABANDONED INMATES OF MENTAL HEALTH CENTRE: DLSA Kozhikode, in co ordination with all the Akshaya Project Office has conducted a one day camp for Aadhar enrolment of 263 unknown and abandoned inmates of Govt. Mental Health Centre, Kozhikode. This has helped the Mental Health Centre to open Bank Accounts for some cured inmates who are making small earnings from some occupations arranged in the Centre as part of rehabilitation activities. This has also helped to identify whereabouts of some inmates who have already done the enrolment from some other places.

CONNECTING TO SERVE- A NATIONWIDE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN:

As requested by NALSA, ‘CONNECTING TO SERVE- A successful NATIONWIDE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN’ was conducted from 9.11.2017 to 18.11.2017 as part of t observance of Legal Services Day 2017. KeLSA also played its part and organized a handful of excellent, meritorious and meticulous activities in the Districts in association with District Legal Services Authorities and Taluk Legal Services Committees under its jurisdiction, Bar Associations and accredited NGOs and other NGOs, Reliance Foundation Information Services etc.

AWARENESS IN PRISONS: Though legal aid clinics are functioning actively in all jails in Kerala, special efforts were taken by all DLSAs to sensitize the inmates of Jails about their rights and the availability of free legal aid through the legal services institutions. Legal Awareness camps for prisoners were conducted during the said period .The panel lawyers interacted with the inmates and have took steps to assist them by providing legal aid. Legal awareness classes have been conducted in jails of women prisoners to sensitize them about the availability of legal services to them.

ONE DAY NATIONAL LEVEL WORKSHOP ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES: One day National Level Workshop on Human Rights was conducted in association with Human Rights Law Network on 25.11.2017 at the Banquet Hall, High Court of Kerala in connection with the commemoration of Constitution Day. The workshop was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Mr. Justice A. Muhammed Mustaque.

7TH STATE LEVEL QUIZ COMPETITION ON LEGAL AWARENESS FOR HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: KeLSA is regularly conducting a State Level Quiz Competition at the School, Taluk, District and State level on legal awareness for Higher Secondary School students based on the book ‘Lessons in Law’ published by KeLSA. The 7th State Level Quiz Competition has reached the final stage as the District Level Quiz Competition was held on 16.12.2017. The state level final round will be held on 20.1.2018 at High Court of Kerala.

POCSO ALERT – STAGE II: The Hon’ble Executive Chairman has accorded sanction to DLSA Kozhikode for the second stage of the project “POCSO ALERT” .In the second stage the teachers of the district will be sensitised about the POCSO Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 .This programme is conducted as part of the effectuation of NALSA scheme 2015 for Child Friendly Legal Services. Phase-I of this project covered all the police officers in the district. PARTICIPATION IN MELAS, FAIRS ETC: DLSA Alappuzha participated in the cultural rally in connection with Nehru Trophy Boat Race. ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN: District Legal Services Authority, Thiruvananthapuram in association with the PTA of SMV MODEL HSS, Thiruvananthapuram and Anti-Corruption People’s Movement organized an anti-corruption campaign in the School Auditorium on 7.08.2017.

SPECIAL LOK ADALAT AT VILAPPIL GRAMA PANCHAYAT: District Legal Services Authority, Thiruvananthapuram conducted a special Adalat at the Government P. P. School, Peyad on 26th August, 2017. More than 600 cases were considered and 136 cases were settled. in the Adalat. The Adalat was a grand success on both participation at organization wise.

TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR MEDIATORS ON MEDIATION PSYCHOLOGY AND DRAFTING AGREEMENT: The Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre conducted a training programme for the Mediators of different districts on Mediation Psychology and drafting of agreement apart from the programme ‘Mediation Advocacy’, an advanced awareness programme for lawyers to attract them to persuade lawyers to participate in the process of mediation.

‘NAGARAM NIRMALAM’: To make Thrissur City a clean one by creating a new culture through awareness and legal measures, NSS volunteers of various colleges of Thrissur are working with DLSA along with PLVs. Notices were issued to all shops and public offices at first instance for providing awareness on waste disposal laws. A Survey is in progress.

WORKSHOP ON MENTAL HEALTH ACT AND PWD ACT, 2016 AT MHC, KOZHIKODE: DLSA Kozhikode has conducted a workshop on new Mental Health Care Act and new PWD Act on 26.08.2017. The workshop was inaugurated by the Honourable Justice Antony Dominic, Executive Chairman, KeLSA. The Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Surendra Mohan, Chairman, HCLSC presided over the said function.

PROGRAMMES ON LEGAL AWARENESS THROUGH RADIO AND TELEVISION The Taluk Legal Service Committee, Thiruvalla aired the speeches on different topics on Law with the co – operation of RADIO – MACFAST, a community Radio Service every week. SUPPORT FOR TRANSGENDERS is given by establishing specialty medical clinic at Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, District Hospital, Kozhencherry, General Hospital, Kozhikode etc. Special Kudumbasree unit was started at Kottayam for TGS. In Pathanamthitta, support is being given to this group by establishing ‘Kalasagara’, a group of stage artists among TGs so as to help them to live better.

Meeting of Transgenders’s empowerment –beautician course on 4thOct 2017

SHORT FILM ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: The District Legal Services Authority, Kozhikode, in association with the Kerala Women Development Corporation, is producing a short film “Pennoruthi” on women empowerment. PUNARJINI: This project of DLSA, Pathanamthitta is in connection with the NALSA scheme for Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation and aims at identifying and addressing various issues of female sex workers in Pathanamthitta District with the support of Local Self Government and other government departments.

SAATHI: DLSA, Pathanamthitta has inaugurated SAATHI project on 02.12.2017 at Sivaranjini Auditorium, Pandalam for migrant labourers under the NALSA Scheme for the workers in the Unorganised sector.

•Legal aid and service is provided by DLSAs through legal services clinics in JJBs, police stations, Nirbhaya, Bhoomika, etc. DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram has started legal aid clinic in 22 police stations.

• NICE AND SANTHWANAM: On 05.08.2017 DLSA, Pathanamthitta launched NICE a project under the NALSA Scheme - “Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their protection” and SANTHWANAM

project for Transgenders under NALSA Scheme, 2015 “Victims of Trafficking and Commercial sexual exploitation”

•’’PRAVASI DOSTH’’ This is a project of DLSA, Alappuzha for Migrant workers. It includes c legal awareness, enrolment in Health insurance scheme and issuance of identity cards

VICTIM COMPENSATION SCHEME- COMPENDATION PAID

No. of cases Amount disbursed Persons benefited

31 Rs. 77,73,000 43

LOK ADALAT

NATIONAL LOK ADALAT

Category Considered Settled Amount involved

Pending cases 66056 15743

Pre litigation 65800 11108

Total 1,31,856 26851 3783890510

LOK ADALATS OTHER THAN NATIONAL LOK ADALATS

No. of Lok Adalats 1149

Cases considered

Pending cases : 24982

Pre- litigation : 40335

Settled Pending cases: 5004

Pre-litigation : 7636

Amount involved 1700818721/

SPECIAL LOK ADALAT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS: DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram has conducted a special Adalat for Senior Citizens at Old Age Shelter home for Women, Poojappura, 7th October, 2017.

MOBILE LOK ADALAT: The Mobile Lok Adalat vehicle which taken the concept of access to justice to door steps or beyond that of the weaker sections of the society started its tour for 2017-2018 on 1.7.2017 from Kottayam district. It has now completed its tour in seven out of fourteen Districts evoking tremendous response from the public as in the previous years. The Lok Adalat vehicle will complete its tour in all the Districts by 4.6.2018.

MEDIATION

TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR MEDIATORS ON MEDIATION PSYCHOLOGY AND DRAFTING AGREEMENT.

The Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre, the mediation monitoring committee, has conducted training programmes in all the districts on psychology to mediators and ‘mediation advocacy’, an awareness programme on mediation so as to ensure involvement of lawyers in mediation.

STATISTICS OF CASES SETTLED IN MEDIATION

JULY-DECEMBER-2017

Total of all Mediation/ADR Centres

A. No .of cases pending in the beginning of the month 31709

B No .of cases received during the month 19764

C. Cases settled through Mediation 6002

D. Cases returned as not settled 10450

E Non-starter cases which were returned as mediation could not be commenced

3038

F No. of cases pending at the end of the month 27036

G Percentage (%) of settlement 33.45

LEGAL AWARENESS ACTIVITIES

DLSA, Alappuzha conducted “Vayo Sauhrida Aryad’’- awareness class for senior citizen in all the 80 wards of Aryad Bolck panchayaths. 350 PLPs were were considered. 30 PLPs resulted in settlement of dispute and some Petitions relating to ration card issues handed over to District Supply Officer, Alappuzha).

DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram has conducted Anti-Corruption Campaign AT SMV MODEL HS.

‘My health, my right’- PROGRAMME ON WORLD AIDS DAY Smt. Reshmi Soman, Joint Director, AIDS Control Security, conducted an interesting class on the topic ‘My health, my right’ on the occasion. Also 101 lanterns were lit in the evening declaring solidarity with the AIDS victims.

Phone in programme in All India Radio, Green Channel Radio based in UAE and Club FM 94.3 Sri. Siju Sheik, Secretary, DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram attended a live phone –in-programme in All India Radio, Club FM 94.3 and in Green Channel Radio. The Secretary classified the doubts of listeners on various legal matters. The programmes has helped to a good extend in linking the legal services activities of DLSA with the general public far and wide. SUPADAM: A campaign by DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram to create awareness on drug menace

LALANAM: The DLSA, Thiruvananthapuram conducted a Special awareness campaign titled Lalanam on the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their Protection) Scheme, 2015 CHALANAM: District Legal Services Authority, Thiruvananthapuram in association with Navoodhan Charitable Foundation and Kuttichal Grama Panchayat launched launched ‘CHALANAM’ – a mission for changing the life of Tribals of Nedumangad area. As part of the programme, a free cancer detection medical camp, mobile Adalat and an awareness programme on drug abuse menace were also held.

“JUSTICE FOR ENVIRONMENT” DLSA, Thrissur organised Special Awareness Campaign named “Justice for Environment "at Puthukkadu.

OPERATION LEGAL REVOLUTION "a step towards declaring Thrikkur Grama Panchayath as 100% Literate Panchayath, set up legal aid clinics in various panchayaths& municipalities. Visited slums & colonies, distributed pamphlets, notices booklets & brochures among the public.

TRAINING PROGRAMMES

TRAINING TO PANEL LAWYERS – MODULE - II

Training for Panel Lawyers under NALSA Training Module II has been started in the State with a programme at Kottayam on 13th July 2017. Two master Trainers, former District Judges trained by NALSA, local resource persons and the secretaries, DLSAs are conducting the training sessions. KeLSA could cover 12 districts till date. Thereafter, 5days training programme on the Module prepared by NALSA for Probation Officers and Legal Services Lawyers attached to Juvenile Justice Boards will be conducted in association with the Kerala Judicial Academy.

TRAINING FOR PLVS ON 6, 7, 8,11TH OF DEC 2017 AT ADR CENTRE, KOTTAYAM

MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES

Drop out students from school: Based on a news in a newspaper that two Tribal Students (girls) dropped out from the School in Sulthan Bathery, the Taluk Legal Services Committee taken up the matter and arranged Admission for the mentioned students

.

OAKHI RELIEF ACTIVITIES

The DLSAs of coastal districts effectively intervened and provided legal aid to the victims of Oakhi Cyclone.

Member Secretary