Synopsis: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) have come together on an unique project to educate women about their rights and schemes in the regulatory environment available to them.
Judge of the Supreme Court , Justice NV Ramana, also being the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), launched a campaign to “Empower women through legal awareness.”
The campaign, initiated on India’s 74th Independence Day, is a collaborative effort by NALSA and the National Commission for Women to raise awareness of women’s rights and security under the various laws.
In 285 districts in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, there will be 570 legal literacy services for women under the programme.
In a press release made by NALSA said that it will help women improve their ability so that they can advance their rights and navigate through the judicial and administrative formed to upgrade their rights.
Justice Ramana underlined in his Presidential Address that legal awareness initiatives are sine qua non to allow women to take advantage of the government’s progressive policies. He stated that women have traditionally been discriminated because of patriarchal ideologies, entrenched culture and traditions. But, with the liberalization and rejuvenation of women’s liberation movements, women’s status has improved. With economic freedom and employment, women have a greater opportunity to compete with men in any area.
He also highlighted the details of women’s participation in various legal education projects undertaken by the Legal Services Authority across the country’s district over the past year and observed that more than two lakh women were provided with legal protection. Moreover, even the legal aid movement is mainly led by women, with more than 12,000 female panel lawyers and 24,000 para legal volunteers.
On this occasion, Ms. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) said in her address that women’s empowerment comes only from awareness; there can be no empowerment for women unless women know their legal rights.
NALSA Member Secretary Mr Ashok Kumar Jain gave an outline of the initiative. The gathering was also attended by eight SLSA’s Executive Chairpersons; Ms. Meeta Rajivlochan, Member Secretary, NCW; NALSA and NCW officers; DLSAs Secretaries; Nodal Officers and panel lawyers.
NALSA also published its “Handbook on laws relating to Women” on the occasion, which addresses women’s laws in an easy to understand format. In addition to this, Justice Ramana also released further IEC material consisting of seven booklets.