Citizens urged to know their rights, entitlements at NSLSA’s Mega Legal Services Camp
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 15
The Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) along with all the district legal services authorities have been organizing legal awareness camps over the years in all the districts. However, the organizers found that the awareness camps were less effective and they adopted a new model by shifting from mere awareness campaign to empowerment.
This statement was made by Principal District & Sessions Judge and Chairperson of Dimapur District Legal Services Authority (DDLSA), Y. Longkumer, NJS in her keynote address during the Mega Legal Services Camp held at DDSC Stadium on Saturday.
She said such camps have been organized in eight districts of the state so far and Dimapur was the ninth district.
Longkumer also encouraged the people to take advantage of the opportunity to know their rights and entitlements as the objective of the camp was to impart legal knowledge to the people and empower them.
DC Dimapur, Sushil Kumar Patel, IAS observed that many people were unaware of the varied schemes available for them and urged them to learn about such schemes during the camp.
‘The organisers are here to provide you service and for which almost all government departments have set up their stalls which do not charge any fee but provide free legal services and educate you about your rights,’ he told the gathering, mostly women.
Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, Dr. Vikato Kinimi highlighted about various government medical schemes available for people and urged them to feel free to enquire about such schemes at his office. . Benefits such as Disability certificate, Generic drugs available at subsidized rates, free antenatal Check up, etc, the CMO informed.
Secretary, Department of Justice & Law, Khanrinla T Koza said that the stalls at the venue were not for people to come and spend money, but know their rights.
She urged the visitors to go back home and educate their fellow community about the various rights and entitlements available, and asked them ‘not to be hesitant about asking or standing for their rights’ and DLSAs were there to help them out.
Thousands benefit
More than 40 stalls were set up at the venue including government departments and banking institutions.
It include Administration (Judicial Branch) DC office for ST and SC certificates; Economic & Statistics for birth certificates; Aadhaar Department issued free cards; Horticulture; Bamboo Mission; Social Welfare department; and Transport department etc. Various banks such as State bank of India, HDFC, Indusind Bank, Bank of India etc were present providing various kinds of loans and opening of accounts.
According to the organisers, the Social Welfare department recorded six-hundred and fifty beneficiaries while SBI recorded two hundred beneficiaries; there were four hundred beneficiaries in Transport department.
Many of the visitors were seen thronging Aadhaar stall set up by the district administration. All together there were about four thousand beneficiaries, they added. The Camp was organized under the auspices of NSLSA&DDLSA in collaboration with government departments, stakeholders and NGOs.
