Skip to main content

Legal services scheme for disaster victims mandates multi-pronged response



Letter to Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, Chhattisgarh, by the Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad:
***
Greetings from Centre for Social Justice.
You are well appraised of the worrying situation of migrant labourers, students and other people who migrate and travel inter-state for work as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Presently, four categories of people need support. 
  • People who are stuck in various places because of transportation not being available.
  • People in transit, on foot, for distances as far as 400 kilometres.
  • People who have returned and are not being allowed to enter their villages.
  • People who have come back and are either not properly examined or even if examined need to isolate themselves for two weeks and are either not advised or have no such options.
NALSA Scheme For Legal Services To Disaster Victims mandates a multi-pronged response to address the needs of disaster affected people. This includes, amongst other things, facilitating safe transportation, uniting with family, coordinating with various departments etc. Click HERE
NALSA Legal Services to the Workers in the Unorganized Sector Scheme, 2015 mandates setting up of special cell to identify, register, counsel, inform and facilitate the entitlements available to the unorganized labour under various government schemes. Click HERE
The two schemes read together provide the most needed response mechanism to address the immediate and long term needs of the people affected by the lock down.While we realize that the respective DLSAs are under equipped / resourced to implement the two schemes most relevant in today’s time, with partnerships with local NGOs and colleges, it is possible to reach out to the vast majority of people who need the support.
Our efforts at seeking a collaboration in various districts have not been successful. Given the gravity of the situation, we draw your attention to the following and seek immediate action:
  1. Proactively seek NGO assistance, seek their list of village volunteers and replace them with the existing non performing-on-paper list of PLVs under the Paralegal Volunteer Scheme.
  2. Set up a help line and ask the TLC and DLC to track routes on which people are walking to reach their destination, organize food and resting facilities and make arrangements for safe transit. While it promising to see that SLSA’s national 15100 helpline is playing an active role, our experience so far suggests that the phone is under resourced. The response could be strengthened by engaging with law college students/NGOs to bolster capacity.
  3. Set up spaces like prathmik shala, community centres, panchayat bhawans, schools etc. as spaces where people can stay in isolation for two weeks.
  4. Involve colleges to create audio-visual print material on entitlements announced from time to time and circulate these to create awareness amongst beneficiary groups.
  5. Compile a list of workers registered under various laws like the Unorganized Worker Social Security Act 2008, Interstate Migrant Workmen Act 1979, Building and Other Construction Workers Act (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act 1996, Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 etc. as a base for facilitating their claims in the future. Develop appropriate communication and outreach strategy for facilitating their claims once the lock down is over
  6. Design a three stage response strategy: First stage: ensuring immediate needs of food and shelter; Second stage: creating awareness of various entitlements; Third stage: monitoring and facilitating access and removing systemic issues
To effectively implement the three pronged-approach discussed above, we would like to propose that Centre for Social Justice conduct telephonic training for PLVs associated with DLSAs. This would take the form of a 3-4 hour input session, followed by regular feedback/information and action sharing follow up calls. Considering the exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in, a collaboration of this nature would allow us to synergise efforts and resources, and ensure the best possible response for those most affected by this lockdown.

Comments

TRENDING

गुजरात विश्वविद्यालय कुलपति महोदया का बयान उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डांटे समान है

गुजरात विश्व विद्यालय परिसर में विदेशी छात्रों को सांस्कृतिक संवेदनशीलता का पाठ देने की ख़बर के संबंध में विश्व विद्यालय को खुला पत्र: --- प्रति श्री, कुलपति महोदय गुजरात विश्वविद्यालय अहमदाबाद विषय- गुजरात विश्व विद्यालय परिसर में विदेशी छात्रों को सांस्कृतिक संवेदनशीलता का पाठ देने की ख़बर के संबंध में। महोदया,

देशव्यापी ग्रामीण भारत बंध में उतरे मध्य प्रदेश के आदिवासी, किया केंद्र सरकार का विरोध

- हरसिंग जमरे, भिखला सोलंकी, रतन अलावे*  15 और 16 फरवरी को निमाड के बड़वानी, खरगोन और बुरहानपुर में जागृत आदिवासी दलित संगठन के नेतृत्व में आदिवासी महिला-पुरुषों ग्रामीण भारत बंद में रैली एवं विरोध प्रदर्शन किया । प्रधान मंत्री द्वारा 2014 में फसलों की लागत का डेढ़ गुना भाव देने का वादा किया गया था, 2016 में किसानों की आय दुगना करने का वादा किया गया था । आज, फसलों का दाम नहीं बढ़ रहा है, लेकिन खेती में खर्च बढ़ता जा रहा है! खाद, बीज और दवाइयों का दाम, तीन-चार गुना बढ़ चुका है! किसानों को लागत का डेढ़ गुना भाव देने के बजाए, खेती को कंपनियों के हवाले करने के लिए 3 काले कृषि कानून लाए गए । 3 काले कानून वापस लेते समय प्रधान मंत्री ने फिर वादा किया था कि फसलों की लागत का डेढ़ गुना भाव की कानूनी गारंटी के लिए कानून बनाएँगे, लेकिन वो भी झूठ निकला! आज जब देश के किसान दिल्ली में आपको अपना वादा याद दिलाने आए है, तब आप उनका रास्ता रोक रहें है, उनके साथ मारपीट कर उन पर आँसू गैस फेंक रहें हैं, उन पर छर्रों से फायरिंग कर रहें है! देश को खिलाने वाला किसान खुद भूखा रहे, क्या यही विकास है?

नफरती बातें: मुसलमानों में असुरक्षा का भाव बढ़ रहा है, वे अपने मोहल्लों में सिमट रहे हैं

- राम पुनियानी*  भारत पर पिछले 10 सालों से हिन्दू राष्ट्रवादी भारतीय जनता पार्टी (भाजपा) राज कर रही है. भाजपा आरएसएस परिवार की सदस्य है और आरएसएस का लक्ष्य है हिन्दू राष्ट्र का निर्माण. आरएसएस से जुड़ी सैंकड़ों संस्थाएँ हैं. उसके लाखों, बल्कि शायद, करोड़ों स्वयंसेवक हैं. इसके अलावा कई हजार वरिष्ठ कार्यकर्ता हैं जिन्हें प्रचारक कहा जाता है. भाजपा के सत्ता में आने के बाद से आरएसएस दुगनी गति से हिन्दू राष्ट्र के निर्माण के अपने एजेण्डे को पूरा करने में जुट गया है. यदि भाजपा को चुनावों में लगातार सफलता हासिल हो रही है तो उसका कारण है देश में साम्प्रदायिकता और साम्प्रदायिक मुद्दों का बढ़ता बोलबाला. इनमें से कुछ हैं राम मंदिर, गौमांस और गोवध एवं लव जिहाद. 

Only 15% businesses provide employees real-time sustainability dashboards: Study

Kyndryl in collaboration with Microsoft has released the findings of The Global Sustainability Barometer study. The study, conducted by Ecosystm, finds that while 85% of organizations place a high strategic level of importance on achieving their sustainability goals, only 16% have integrated sustainability into their strategies and data. A Kyndryl note: *** Kyndryl (NYSE: KD), the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, in collaboration with Microsoft , today released the findings of The Global Sustainability Barometer study. The study, conducted by Ecosystm , finds that while 85% of organizations place a high strategic level of importance on achieving their sustainability goals, only 16% have integrated sustainability into their strategies and data.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on.

Laxmanpur Bathe massacre: Perfect example of proto-fascist Brahmanical social order

By Harsh Thakor  The massacre at Laxmanpur-Bathe of Jehanabad in Bihar on the night of 1 December in 1997 was a landmark event with distinguishing features .The genocide rightly shook the conscience of the nation in the 50th year of Indian independence. The scale of the carnage was unparalleled in any caste massacre. It was a perfect manifestation of how in essence the so called neo-liberal state was in essence most autocratic. 

Disgusting: Isha Foundation converted Shivratri into dance show Bollywood style

By NS Venkataraman*  Maha Shivratri carries profound spiritual importance ,serving as a time for devotees to fervently pray and meditate and seek divine blessings of Lord Shiva.

International award to Assam docufilm on older than Sanskrit Assam folk rendition

By Prantik Deka  In a heartwarming news, 'Dhulia Culture of Old Kamrup (Assam)', a 26-minute long documentary, based on the traditional folk-art form of Assam, researched, produced and directed by Dr Aparna Buzarbarua under the banner of Rohini Production, has won the Best Documentary Award at the International Short Film Festival Award, which took place at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium in Kolkata, recently. The award comprises a trophy, a memento, a medal and a certificate. 

भाजपा शासन और भारतीय प्रजातंत्र व संविधान को खतरे: चार सौ पार की जरूरत क्यों?

- राम पुनियानी*  सत्ताधारी भाजपा के नेता इन दिनों 'चार सौ पार' की बात कर रहे हैं. उनका मानना है कि आने वाले आम चुनाव में भाजपा 370 से ज्यादा सीटें जीतेगी और उसके गठबंधन साथी 30 से ज्यादा. और इस प्रकार एनडीए 400 पार हो जायेगा. यह संख्या किसी चुनाव विशेषज्ञ की राय या किसी वैज्ञानिक सर्वेक्षण पर आधारित नहीं है. यह प्रचार केवल राजनैतिक उद्देश्य से किया जा रहा है.

સમાજસેવી, ધર્મની જડતાને પડકારનાર, ઉદારવાદના સમર્થક રમણભાઈ નીલકંઠ

- ગૌરાંગ જાની   ગુજરાત અને અમદાવાદના જાહેરજીવનમાં મહાત્મા ગાંધીના આગમન પૂર્વે સમાજ સુધારા અને સમાજ ચિંતન ક્ષેત્રમાં શિરમોર વ્યક્તિત્વ એટલે રમણભાઈ. ધર્મની જડતાઓને પડકારનાર અને એ દિશામાં સાહિત્ય સર્જનની ઉજ્વળ પરંપરાના અગ્રણી એવા રમણભાઈ નીલકંઠ વિશે આજે વાત કરીશું.વીસમી સદીની પ્રથમ પચીસીમાં અમદાવાદને વૈચારિક રીતે બદલનાર બે વ્યક્તિત્વ. એક ઇન્દુલાલ યાજ્ઞિક અને બીજા રમણભાઈ .ગુજરાતમાંથી સૌ પ્રથમ વિદેશગમન કરનાર અને એ માટે નાગરી નાતનો દંડ અને વિરોધ સહન કરનાર મહીપતરામ રૂપરામના પુત્ર રમણભાઈની માતાનું નામ રૂપકુંવર હતું. આજથી ૧૫૪ વર્ષ પૂર્વે વર્ષ ૧૮૬૮ ના માર્ચની ૧૩ તારીખે અમદાવાદમાં વડનગરા નાગર પરિવારમાં રમણભાઈનો જન્મ થયો હતો. રસપ્રદ એ છે કે રમણભાઈની મૂળ અટક મહેતા હતી પણ તેમના એક પૂર્વજ નામે નીલકંઠ મહેતા દિવાન હતા એથી રમણભાઈની અટક મહેતા નહિ પણ નીલકંઠ પડી.