Justice NV Ramana, Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), released ‘Handbook of formats: Ensuring effective legal services’ at a webinar in the presence of Executive Chairpersons of State Legal Services Authorities, Chairpersons of High Court Legal Services Committees and Member Secretaries of all State Legal Services Authorities, Chairpersons and Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities.
In the keynote address, Justice Ramana highlighted the following issues: Unfortunately, even though three months have passed, the situation is still not under control. Pursuant to the lockdown, thousands of people have lost their lives and livelihood, large scale migration has taken place. Women have been burdened with more work and children are unable to go to schools. In spite of all the troubles, the Legal Services Authorities have done tremendous activities during the prevailing pandemic by adopting the latest technology.
One of the critical areas which has come to our notice was rising violence within the family itself. We also saw increasing rise in the number of instances of child abuse. During such times, when the victims cannot reach us, it’s imperative for us to reach them. Acknowledging the urgency of the situation we have established One Stop Centres (OSCs). Persistent efforts have been taken to provide legal assistance through tele-services of female panel lawyers in every district. In other matters, petitions have been filed under the Domestic Violence Act.
Another focus area for the Legal Services Authorities across the country was to ensure the reduction of over-crowding in prisons. As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the SLSAs have actively assisted High Powered Committees to identify and complete the necessary formalities for the release of prisoners, both undertrials and convicts.
It is equally imperative that legal aid providers are able to document and report their interventions, which is essential to effectuate the various NALSA schemes and frameworks. This handbook is the first crucial step towards standardising and bringing in uniformity in the use of formats. This handbook is an effective tool for management of human resources and in future will prove as a small but significant step in realising justice for all.
The pandemic has presented multiple emerging issues before us. The most predominant one is that of reverse migration. Massive reverse migration will invariably lead to increase in poverty, inequity and discrimination. This calls for a persistent and target orientation action plan, which we all have to work out together. The future is going to be challenging — let’s stay committed.
Additionally, Justice Ramana also shared that it is also being ensured that Toll free National Legal Helpline 15100 remains fully functional. Legal Services Authorities have organised hundreds of webinars across various states and are utilising cost effective tools such as social media, community radio stations, local cable television channels and other digital platforms to increase outreach.
He concluded by saying, “Let these challenging times not paralyse you, like all dark nights this shall pass too.”
