Kohima, November 1 (MExN): Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) and Phek District Legal Services Authority (PDLSA) organized orientation programme for their Para Legal Volunteers (PLV) in their respective district headquarters on October 31 and November 1 respectively.
The programme targeted to mobilize and equip the PLVs in view of the two days door to door awareness campaign scheduled for November 2 and 3, where people will be given insights on the Legal Services Authority and the services the beneficiaries can avail.
In Kohima, Mezivolu T. Therieh, NJS, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima & Secretary, KDLSA spoke on the strategies of the two-day campaign. She stated that the nationwide campaign will be first of its kind where maximum number of household in the country will witness to spread awareness about the law. Some of the areas to be dealt with are the Legal Services Institutions and the availability of the legal services, how the general masses can get their entitlements under the various provisions of laws and schemes sponsored by the government. She further encouraged the PLVs to work hard towards the cause of humanity and help the people get access to justice.
Akumla Longchari, Master Trainer, NSLSA in her presentation on the roles and responsibilities of the Para Legal Volunteers said the Scheme of the Para Legal Volunteers was first launched by National Legal Services Authority in the year 2009, where PLVs are expected to act as intermediaries and the barefoot doctors reaching people at their doorsteps. They are to bridge the gap between the people and the Legal Services Authority. She also said that PLVs are to educate the people, especially those who belong to the weaker sections of the society to enable them to be aware of their rights. PLVs should also ensure that the victims of crime get proper care and attention and are compensated for the loss they suffered, she added.
In Phek, Ajong Imchen, Civil Judge and Secretary of PDLSA said that the objective of the campaign is to spread the message of access to justice for all at the broadest level, therefore the PLVs are to reach out to the weaker and marginalized sections of the society campaigning door to door and covering maximum number of household.
Vethothi Vero, Panel Lawyer of PDLSA spoke on the roles and functions of PLVs in the campaign and other topics. Later, an interaction session was held with the PLVs lined up for the two-day door to door campaign with regard to issues on domestic violence in the local context and environment protection act.
A press release from the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority informed that the PLVs during the campaign will also distribute free legal literature and literacy books, pamphlets, flyers carrying the message on basic laws, provisions on legal rights, legal services institutions and availability of free legal services.
