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DURING THE YEAR 2009 Earlier Haryana State Legal Services Authority had initiated two Legal Literacy schemes namely, Prisoners Legal Literacy Mission (PLLM) and Legal Literacy Mission for empowerment of underprivileged (LLUP). During the year 2009 another Legal Literacy scheme namely Legal Literacy for Students (LLS) has been initiated. Brief details of these schemes are as under:- 1. Prisoners Legal Literacy Mission (PLLM) The project envisions that legal literacy will reform the mindset of the prisoners and help them become responsible members of the society. The objectives of the mission are to target the prisons and jails in a systematic manner and to hold Legal Awareness Camps in prisons, prepare and publish Legal Literacy Literature in local language and to circulate the same amongst the prisoners; to organize skits and audio/visual presentations for the prisoners to educate them about their rights; to co-ordinate with the prisons authorities to ensure that freedoms that belong to the prisoners are made available to them and to help improve prison conditions. Activities during the year 2009 a) As per directions given by HSLSA (vide letter No. 9322-9340 dated 21.7.2009) the basic rights of the prisoners were displayed in all Jails in shape of a wall painting in Hindi, in the size of about 6’ X 10’, and in a place easily accessible to all prisoners/under trials. (b) 41 Legal Literacy Camps were organized in Jails. (c) Legal Aid Counsel are visiting Legal Aid Clinics set up in Jails twice a week and outstations jails once a week for giving free legal services to the prisoners/under trials. (d) All Chairmen of DLSAs were directed to ensure that there should be a Library and a complaint box in every jail. As per information received from DLSA’s the direction has been complied with. (d) Under the Project for development of Para-Legal Services, HSLSA vide letter No.14038(LA-II)2009/MS/HSLSA dated 22.12.2009 asked the Director General of Prison, Haryana to direct the Jail Authorities to identify ten educated prisoners serving long term sentences in their respective Central Prisons/ District Prisons for being trained as Para Legal Volunteers. In this regard the Superintendent, District Jails Sirsa and Rewari have appointed 10 prisoners as Para Legal Volunteers in their Jails. (e) This Authority vide letter No. 6866-.84/2009/LA-IIJMSJHSLSA dated 28.5.2009 directed all District Legal Services Authorities to organize Legal literacy Camps in the jails for promoting concept of “Plea Bargaining” on 6.6.2009. (f) Vide letter No.624/2009/MS/HSLSA dated 8.1.2010 the Chief Judicial Magistrates-cum-Secretaries have been asked to raise the visits of empanelled advocates to jails up to five times a week as shown below:
2. Legal Literacy Mission for empowerment of underprivileged (LLUP) Haryana State Legal Services Authority has also launched Legal Literacy Mission for empowerment of underprivileged (LLUP). LLUP envisages creating awareness among neglected children, who are forced to take shelter in orphanage centres, helpless girls and women who are forced to take shelter in Nari Niketan or other such institutions, neglected old age people, disabled, mentally ill persons living under helpless situation under the care or control of government-run or non-government-run organizations. Activities during the year 2009 (a) This Authority vide letter No.6736-6754/2009/MS/HSLSA dated 25.5.2009 directed the Chairmen of District Legal Services Authorities to make regular monthly visits to shelter Homes and Care Homes existing in their respective Sessions Divisions and send a report of their visits to this Authority. They were also asked to depute an Advocate/Advocates on the panel of the District Authority to make fortnightly visits to these Institutes for providing free legal services. Reports are being received from the District Authorities that they are visiting these Homes in their district. (b) Taking note of Newspaper reports, dated 4.7.2009, 6.7.2009 & 7.7.2009, in the ‘Tribune’ in an article “Homes Without Care”, about the various shortcomings in the Observation Homes situated at, Karnal, Sonepat and Faridabad respectively. HSLSA directed the Chief Judicial Magistrates-cum-Secretaries, District Legal Services Authorities, Karnal, Sonepat and Faridabad to visit these Observation Homes/Nari Niketan and submit their report to this Authority. After receiving the reports from them the same were sent to the Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana for taking immediate remedial action. (b) Hon’ble Executive Chairman of this Authority also paid a visit to the Observation Home at Sonepat on 4.10.2009 for getting first hand information about the conditions in such Homes. Similarly the Member Secretary visited the Blind Girls School, Narnaul on 17.1.2009 for the same purpose. (c) 59 Legal Literacy Camps were organized on World AIDS Day for spreading the awareness about HIV/AIDS on 1.12.2009 and on World Disabled Day for the legal rights of Handicapped and Disabled persons on 3.12.2009. 3. Legal Literacy for Students(LLS) Haryana State Legal Services Authority with the collaboration of Education Department of Haryana has opened Legal Literacy Clubs in 1444 Senior Secondary/Secondary Schools and 169 Colleges. At these Legal Literacy Clubs the students are apprised about the various rights and duties of citizens and they are informed about various socio-legal issues. The students also participate in activities such as debates, declamation, poetry, skits, essay writing, slogan writing on issues of socio-legal relevance. To give impetus to this project, competitions in these activities, are organized at school/college level, then at District level, then at Divisional level and finally at State level. The first State Level function is being organized at Kurukshetra on 6.2.2010. 4. Legal Literacy Camps for Grass root level officials Special Legal Literacy Camps for Grass root level officials such as Anganwari Workers, teachers, Panchayat Members etc. are also being organized. One such camp was organized at Mullana (Ambala) on 20.12.2009 which was attended by two Hon’ble Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court who also addressed the audience. Future Targets In the year 2010 such camps shall be held in all the remaining districts of Haryana and Hon’ble High Court Judges will be invited to participate in these Camps. 5. Publicity through Print Media and Electronic Media Print media and Electronic media are among the most potent tools for spreading legal awareness. Haryana State Legal Services Authority has published books, folders, pamphlets dealing with legal rights and duties of citizens. Following are some of the books published by Haryana State Legal Services Authority during the year 2009: New Books printed in the year 2009 Books to be printed in the year 2010 Quarterly Magazine HSLSA published its first Quarterly Magazine namely “Nyay-Gyan-Udai” in the year 2009. Hon’ble Mr. Justice K. Kannan, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court has been requested to act as Editor-in-Chief for HSLSA. 4 Quarterly Magazines are to be published in the year 2010. 6. Exhibiting documentary films through EDUSAT: HSLSA through DEOs/DPROs/CJMs exhibited the following documentary films in all schools of Haryana: 1. Beti” (dealing with evils of female foeticide). 2. Nashakhori Sey Nashamukti Ki Aur” (dealing with evil of drug abuse). 3. “Savera” (dealing with knowledge of legal services and Lok Adalats). 4. Message on “Save Water” & “Save Planet Earth” prepared by His Excellency Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Former President of India.
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