legal literacy final

8/12/2019 Legal Literacy Final

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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

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INTRODUCTION

LITERACY: MEANING

The term literacy can be defined as the basic ability to read and write. The

United Nations Educational, Social and ultural !rgani"ation #UNES!$,

defines the term %literacy& as 'a (erson is literate who can, with understanding,

read and write a short statement on his e)eryday life'. Literacy is the ability to

use '(rinted and written information to function in society, to achie)e one*s goals,

and to de)elo( one*s +nowledge and (otential'. n recent years, the focus of

literacy has changed from an em(hasis on le)els of schooling to a focus on

functional s+ills.

LEGAL LITERACY: MEANING

- definition, based on the Macquarie Dictionarydefinition of the words is *the

(ossession of an education connected with the law ... a de)elo(ment or training

connected with the law*. Legal literacy means ma+ing (eo(le aware of their

rights. t is the first ste( towards the +nowledge of law. Legal literacy is seen as a

tool to bring about ualitati)e change at the grass/root le)el. t has been witnessed

that better awareness of laws hel(s (eo(le wor+ more effecti)ely in di)erse

s(heres. Legal literacy is commonly understood as +nowing the (rimary le)el in

law. 0hen citi"ens, (articularly marginali"ed or under(ri)ileged grou(s, +now


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what the law has to offer them, they can recogni"e and challenge in2ustices much

more forcefully. The first ste( towards that +nowledge of the law, which can

transform (eo(le*s li)es, is legal literacy. t is essential to use this +nowledge as a

tool for )ulnerable grou(s to be able to understand and critiue the law, to

familiari"e themsel)es with the sco(e of their rights under the law, and e)entually

to assert their rights as a means to ta+e action and bring in change.

Legal literacy is the core basis of the rule of law and essential for the sur)i)al of

our constitutional democracy. ndeed, our entire 2ustice deli)ery system is based

on the (resum(tion that all (eo(le are aware of their rights and are able to

a((roach the concerned institution. n terms of legal literacy, the mere ability to

read is not enough. Em(owerment of (eo(le is )ery im(ortant. Literacy without

em(owerment is useless. Em(owerment is not created automatically by being

able to read but it is created by being able to read rele)ant information and using

that information. The information offered through legal literacy must be such that

it enables the (erson to ta+e some action. Thus legal literacy is the first ste( for

the em(owerment of the masses, es(ecially the wea+er sections of the society.

There are a number of organi"ations within and outside the go)ernment that are

in)ol)ed in s(reading legal literacy among )arious sections of the society, using

)arious methods and tools. There is a subtle but significant, difference between

literacy and legal literacy. f a (erson is 2ust a literate, he or she may say at

best, this is mine3 but if that (erson is a legal literate, that is imbued with the

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s(irit of legal literacy, he or she may say with assertion, this is rightfully mine.

Lessons in legal literacy are the means of ma+ing (eo(le aware of their rights 5

the rights that are guaranteed to them by the onstitution of their own creation.

The o((ressed and ignorant masses are reuired to be taught what their rights are,

how those rights relate to them, and how they themsel)es should fructify them in

their own life in order to become the master of their own destiny.

Legal literacy is the core basis of the rule of law and constitutionalism. n fact,

the whole conce(t of administration of 2ustice is (remised on the (resum(tion that

the (eo(le are legal/literate3 that is3 they +now their rights, which are recogni"ed

and (rotected by the law and onstitution. Legal literacy, thus, hel(s in a)oiding

conflict situation. t facilitates access to 2ustice system. t hel(s in eliminating

ineuality and discrimination. Lac+ of legal literacy, on the other hand, ma+es the

ignorant masses )ulnerable to dece(tion, de(ri)ation, and e6(loitation of all sorts.

n ndia, there are go)ernmental organi"ations such as the National Legal

Ser)ices -uthority #N-LS-$ and non/go)ernmental organi"ations #N7!s$ that

are in)ol)ed in the s(reading of legal awareness among the masses.

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CHAPTER II

THE NATIONAL LEGAL LITERACY MISSION,

2005

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THE NATIONAL LEGAL LITERACY MISSION ,

2005

The National Legal Literacy :ission was launched on the ; thof :arch,


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on its (rime list include women, children, minority communities, )ictims of

militancy, crime, disasters and disease, child and bonded labour, landless farmers,

downtrodden and tribal, es(ecially in the North/East, )ictims of se6 e6(loitation,

farmers hit by natural calamities such as drought and floods and so on. The

:ission also (ro(oses to sensiti"e the (olice, army and other organi"ed forces

which are (rone to committing in2ustice and causing )iolation of human rights

and other +inds of atrocities. The main (ur(ose of the National Literacy :ission

is the em(owerment of the 2ustice deli)ery system of the country. The main

hurdles that come in the way of em(owering the 2ustice deli)ery system are

ignorance and illiteracy, a(art from (o)erty. lliteracy and ignorance force large

masses of (eo(le to tolerate social and economic ineualities. The goal of

euality before the law continues to remain a myth or an illusion. The :ission

aims at the stri+ing at the root of the (roblems of ignorance and illiteracy which

(ose a great threat to securing 2ustice for all citi"ens of the country.

The National Legal Literacy :ission is being carried out by the National Legal

Ser)ices -uthority and other such State authorities. ?ollowing the s(irit of the

National Legal Literacy :ission, @thof No)ember since


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CHAPTER III

THE NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

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THE NATIONAL LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

-rticle 4@- of the onstitution of ndia (ro)ides that State shall secure that the

o(eration of the legal system (romotes 2ustice on a basis of eual o((ortunity,

and shall in (articular, (ro)ide free legal aid, by suitable legislation or schemes or

in any other way, to ensure that o((ortunities for securing 2ustice are not denied

to any citi"en by reason of economic or other disability. -rticle 18 and -rticle

#1$ also ma+e it obligatory for the State to ensure euality before law and a

legal system which (romotes 2ustice on a basis of eual o((ortunity to all. Legal

aid stri)es to ensure that constitutional (ledge is fulfilled in its letter and s(irit

and eual 2ustice is made a)ailable to the (oor, downtrodden and wea+er sections

of the society. To ensure the a)ailability of the same constitutional (ro)ision to

the citi"ens of ndia, the Legal Ser)ices -uthorities -ct was enacted in the year

1@CB, but the -ct came into force on @thNo)ember, 1@@9. The National Legal

Ser)ices -uthority #N-LS-$ was constituted on 9thAecember, 1@@9 under the

Legal Ser)ices -uthorities -ct.

- nationwide networ+ has been en)isaged under the -ct for (ro)iding legal aid

and assistance. National Legal Ser)ices -uthority is the a(e6 body constituted to

lay down (olicies and (rinci(les for ma+ing legal ser)ices a)ailable under the

(ro)isions of the -ct and to frame most effecti)e and economical schemes for

legal ser)ices. The National Legal Ser)ices -uthority has a statutory status. t has

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a )ision, a mission and a (assion for securing 2ustice to all.t also disburses funds

and grants to State Legal Ser)ices -uthorities and N7!s for im(lementing legal

aid schemes and (rogrammes.

!ne of the initial schemes and measures of the National Legal Ser)ices -uthority

included accreditation of N7!s for Legal Literacy and Legal -wareness

cam(aigns N-LS- organi"es a number of legal literacy cam(s at )arious (laces

throughout the country in order to s(read legal awareness among the masses.

The National Legal Ser)ices -uthority en)isages the creation of a cadre, called

the (aralegals #on the analogy of (ara/medicals$, who shall be trained and

de(loyed as community ad)ocates 5 the (ersons who would be able to

understand, a((reciate and articulate the needs of the under(ri)ileged. N-LS-,

by the way of )arious legal aid cam(s, brochures, etc. is s(reading legal

awareness among the (eo(le, es(ecially the wea+ and the down/trodden.

N-LS- issues =ress Deleases in almost all the leading news(a(ers in the country

in English, indi and regional languages to con)ey to the (ublic salient

(ro)isions of the Legal Ser)ices -uthorities -ct, the im(ortant schemes

introduced by N-LS- for (ro)iding legal aid and the utility of Lo+ -dalats, so

that (eo(le should +now about the facilities being (ro)ided by Legal Ser)ices

-uthorities throughout the country. State Legal Ser)ices -uthorities all o)er the

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country organise Lo+ -dalats, legal literacy cam(s and underta+e legal awareness

cam(aign to ma+e (eo(le aware of their legal rights.

Legal Ser)ices -uthority s(reads legal literacy byF

!rgani"ing Legal Literacy am(s3

!rgani"ing 0or+sho(s of Law3

(ro)iding Law Literature to the (ublic in the regional language at low cost

by (ublishing boo+s on )arious sub2ects of law written by e6(erts in the

field3

creating awareness about the law of the land amongst general (ublic by

utili"ing mass media li+e Dadio, Tele)ision and the li+e.

Legal Ser)ices -uthority welcomes all indi)iduals and Non/7o)ernmental

!rganisations who are willing to in)ol)e themsel)es in the abo)e mentioned

acti)ities of the -uthority as it would go along way in achie)ing the aims and

ob2ecti)es of the -uthority.

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CHAPTER IV

STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

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STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

n e)ery State a State Legal Ser)ices -uthority is constituted to gi)e effect to the

(olicies and directions of the entral -uthority #N-LS-$ and to gi)e legal

ser)ices to the (eo(le and conduct Lo+ -dalats in the State. State Legal Ser)ices

-uthority is headed by the hief >ustice of the State igh ourt who is its

=atron/in/hief. - ser)ing or retired >udge of the igh ourt is nominated as its

E6ecuti)e hairman.

Aistrict Legal Ser)ices -uthority is constituted in e)ery Aistrict to im(lement

Legal -id =rogrammes and Schemes in the Aistrict. The Aistrict >udge of the

Aistrict is its e6/officio hairman.

Talu+ Legal Ser)ices ommittees are also constituted for each of the Talu+ or

:andal or for grou( of Talu+ or :andals to coordinate the acti)ities of legal

ser)ices in the Talu+ and to organi"e Lo+ -dalats. E)ery Talu+ Legal Ser)ices

ommittee is headed by a senior i)il >udge o(erating within the 2urisdiction of

the ommittee who is its e6/officio hairman.

-lmost all the State Legal Ser)ices -uthorities are identifying suitable and

trustworthy Non/7o)ernmental !rganisations #N7!s$, through whom legal

literacy cam(aign may be ta+en to tribal, bac+ward and far/flung areas in the

country. The effort is to (ublicise legal aid schemes so that the target grou(, for

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whom Legal Ser)ices -uthorities -ct has (ro)ided for free legal aid, may come

to +now about the same and a((roach the concerned legal ser)ices functionaries.

n a country where ma2ority of the (eo(le still li)e below (o)erty line, where

millions and millions ha)e ne)er gone to a school and the society still

discriminates on the basis of se6, religion and caste, legal literacy and legal

awareness is the only road which can lead the suffering ma2ority to the door of

euality /social, economical and (olitical. Legal Ser)ices functionaries therefore,

ha)e a )ery )ital role to (lay so as to nourish and safeguard the constitutional

goal of 'eual 2ustice for all'.

nformation regarding the organi"ation of legal aid cam(s and awareness

(rogrammes of some of the State Legal Ser)ice -uthorities is as gi)en belowF

DELHI LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (DLSA)

Aelhi Legal Ser)ices -uthority has been constituted under the State Legal

Ser)ices -uthorities -ct, 1@CB. The -uthority has constituted igh ourt Legal

Ser)ices ommittee at Aelhi igh ourt, Legal Ser)ices -uthority at Tis a"ari

and its Sub/!ffices at =atiala ouse ourts, Gar+ardooma ourts om(le6 and

Dohini ourts om(le6. The Legal Ser)ices -uthorities -ct, 1@CB, was enacted

to effectuate the constitutional mandate enshrined under -rticles 18 and 4@/- of

the onstitution of ndia. The ob2ect is to (ro)ide access to 2ustice for all so that

2ustice is not denied to citi"ens by reason of economic or other disabilities.

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owe)er, in order to enable the citi"ens to a)ail the o((ortunities under the -ct

in res(ect of grant of free legal aid etc. t is necessary that they are made aware of

their rights.

Legal aid is an essential (art of the -dministration of >ustice. %-ccess to >ustice

for all& is the motto of the -uthority. The goal is to secure 2ustice to the wea+er

sections of the society, (articularly to the (oor, downtrodden and socially

bac+ward, women, children and handica((ed etc. Such ste(s are needed to be

ta+en to ensure that nobody is de(ri)ed of an o((ortunity to see+ 2ustice merely

for want of funds or lac+ of +nowledge. To ensure this, the -uthority organi"es

Legal Literacy and -wareness am(s in different (arts of National a(ital

Territory of Aelhi.

The -uthority has been organi"ing )arious legal awareness (rogrammes from

time to time to sensiti"e the (ublic about their legal rights. These (rogrammes

areF

1. The -uthority is s(reading legal awareness amongst (eo(le by gi)ing

ad)ertisements through electronic media, (rint media and by (ublishing articles

in )arious news(a(ers.

2.The -uthority celebrates e)ents of National m(ortance li+e 0omens Aay,

Labour Aay, 0orld -nti/Tobacco Aay, H National Legal Ser)ices Aay in

(artnershi( with 7o)ernmental and Non/7o)ernmental !rgani"ations.

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3. The -uthority is organi"ing Nukkad Nataks, street (lays, s+its, etc. to

educate and generate (ublic awareness on social and legal issues li+e ?emale

?oeticide, hild Labour, Aomestic Iiolence against 0omen etc.

4.Aocumentary films namely Satyame) >ayate on legal aid H Aesh Gi

Shaan ai Jeti on issues relating to women were released.

5.- Dadio (rogramme is also being broadcasted on ?: Dainbow for ma+ing

the general (ublic aware about their legal rights and the laws (assed for

eradication of social e)ils.

6.Legal literacy :ission through Electronic :edia, =rint :edia, -rticles,

=am(hlets, Joo+lets, :aga"ines and Nyaya Giran.

The Aelhi Legal Ser)ices -uthority is ma+ing a constant endea)our for the

s(reading of legal awareness and also its multifarious acti)ities amongst the

general (ublic. n furtherance of the same ob2ecti)e, the Aelhi Legal Ser)ices

-uthority organi"ed legal awareness cam( and a legal aid (rogramme.

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IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2010

1.- Legal -wareness H Legal -id =rogramme was organised by Aelhi Legal

Ser)ices -uthority in (artnershi( with -dharshila on anuary,


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IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2010

1. Awarene !rogrammeF -wareness =rogramme was organi"ed by Aelhi

Legal Ser)ices -uthority in association with :aa >awala >i Aarbar Aharmarth

Trust on 18th ?ebruary,


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order to settle dis(utes (ending in the ourts as also at the (re/litigati)e stage

amicably, thereby sa)ing time, effort and money of (arties and the ourts.

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ERALA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY (ELSA)

-s a measure to s(read legal literacy among the general (ublic, the Gerala State

Legal Ser)ices -uthority has in the recent (ast gi)en more im(ortance to

im(arting legal literacy among the women of the state, i.e., em(owerment of

women through legal literacy. -(art from the ob2ecti)e of demystifying law,

these under graduate students who are in the thresholds of their social and family

life are gi)en general awareness on the law relating to women. !ne la+h co(ies of

Lessons in Law ha)e been distributed to the targeted grou( of women students

with the acti)e co/o(eration of the National Swayamsewa+ Sangh #N.S.S.$

=rogramme oordinators of fi)e Uni)ersities in Gerala.

Aes(ite the (aradigm shift in focusing legal literacy to the educational institutions

li+e schools and colleges, GELS- has not withdrawn its acti)ities of conducting

legal literacy cam(s in )illages and remote areas. The TLSs ha)e been

instructed to conduct at least one legal literacy cam( in e)ery uarter of the year.

The legal literacy classes ha)e co)ered during this (eriod about B.9la+h(ersons.

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HARYANA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY

To (ro)ide Legal Literacy to the masses is the main ob2ecti)e of -LS-.

National Legal Literacy :ission was launched on ;.4.


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CHAPTER V

TOOLS USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF

SPREADING LEGAL LITERACY

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TOOLS USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF

SPREADING LEGAL LITERACY

The National Legal Ser)ices -uthority, the )arious State Legal Ser)ices

-uthorities and the Non/7o)ernmental !ganisations #N7!s$, in)ol)ed in the

wor+ of s(reading legal literacy among the general (ublic use a number of tools

for the same. These organi"ations are s(read across the country and their wor+

in)ol)es the s(reading of legal literacy amongst different +inds of (eo(le.

ommon tools used for the (ur(ose of s(reading legal awareness includeF

Legal Literacy )amp

am(s on legal literacy are one of the most common modes through which

awareness is created among the (ublic. Such cam(s can be held in )arious

areas and may create awareness with regard to the rights of the (eo(le.

They ha)e to be made aware on the a)ailability of free legal aid and the

(rocedures to be followed therein. Under the legal literacy (rogrammes of

the Aelhi Legal Ser)ices -uthority, information boo+lets are circulated

among the (eo(le. These boo+lets contain information regarding the

(ersons who can benefit from the free/legal aid scheme of the authority.

The information boo+let also consists of an a((lication form in both

English and indi.

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*ewpaper an& ot+er $in& o" common print me&ia. 7enerally

news(a(ers ha)e wide circulation and are also a)ailable in the local

language of an area. These can be used to create awareness with res(ect to

certain rights of the (eo(le or they may contain of the brief e6(lanation of

a new or an e6istent enactment in brief. =resently, almost all the

news(a(ers contain ad)ertisements titled %'aago ,ra+a$ 'aago-, using

which the go)ernmental agencies are trying to create awareness among the

consumers with regards to the )arious rights they ha)e in case they

(urchase faulty or defecti)e goods. The same ad)ertisements are also

aired on )arious radio channels. The National ommission for 0omen

also ad)ertises about its free legal aid schemes for women. -rticles may be

written on the same issues in the news(a(ers. =am(hlets and brochures of

the State Legal Ser)ice -uthorities, creating awareness on )arious issues

are being circulated.

%a&io 'ingle

Dadio is another common tool that can be used for the s(read of legal

awareness or legal literacy. Short ad)ertisements relating to certain issues

or enactments may aired )ia the radio on different channels. Dadio is also

an im(ortant tool in this regard because many (eo(le regularly listen to

)arious (rogrammes or shows on the radio. =resently, many short 2ingles

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regarding Lo+ -dalats, womens rights, (ayment of ta6es, etc, are being

aired on almost all the channels on the radio.

treet !lay

=resently, a large number of N7!s use the mode of street (lays or

Nukkad Nataks to create general awareness on certain socio/legal issues

li+e domestic )iolence, dowry deaths, education of the girl child, etc.

Legal Literacy /or$+op

0or+sho(s creating awareness on the use and im(ortance of (rocedures

such as -lternati)e Ais(ute Desolution #-AD$, mediation and conciliation

may be held.

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CHAPTER VI

METHODOLOGY OF CONDUCTING LEGAL

LITERACY CAMPS FOLLO!ED BY SOME

NGO"

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METHODOLOGY OF CONDUCTING LEGAL

LITERACY CAMPS FOLLO!ED BY SOME

NGO"

(A) E#$%&'L*+ D-#. F%&/

%!anc+ayat +i0ir& is the indi term for an interacti)e Legal Literacy am( /

broadly translated as a )illage council wor+sho( or it is also +nown as %anooni

a$+arta +i0ir&. The methodology ado(ted by different organi"ations might

differ from one and another.

Li+e for instance the methodology followed by a firm called theEnviro-Legal

Defence ir!", mention some common factors the e6istence of which is loo+ed

by the trainers during legal literacy cam(s. These factors are as followsF

1. t is )ery necessary that (eo(le conducting these cam(s include a small

number of such (ersons who are well/)ersed with the local language of the

area in which such a cam( is being held.

1En0iroLegal De"ence Firm i a "irm t+at organie legal literacy camp wit+

relation to t+e legilation on 0ariou iue relate& to t+e en0ironment.

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. -nother method that is commonly used by the Non/7o)ernmental

agencies is that they generally start building u( on the e6isting +nowledge

of the (eo(le on law.

4. Li)e e6am(les are used, (referably a recent e6am(le or one familiar to the

audience, or which the trainer might ha)e undergone himself or herself

during their res(ecti)e field )isits. This will hel( (eo(le understand how

legislation wor+s in the field.

8. n case of literacy cam(s held on common to(ics, (artici(ation of both

men and women of the )illage or area should be ensured.

n case the literacy cam( relates to raising of awareness with regards to a

(articular -ct or legislation, some of the (oints that can be +e(t in mind are as

followsF

1. The (ur(ose of the -ct or legislation is to be first e6(lained.

. The main definitions contained in the (articular legislation should be

e6(lained to the (eo(le in a language and manner that are easily

understandable to the masses.

4. Ne6t, the authorities res(onsible for the enforcement of the -ct should be

e6(lained along with the conseuences of not following the (ro)isions of

such legislation.

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8. n case, the legislation is area/s(ecific, then the uniueness of that

legislation should be e6(lained along with its im(ortance and effect on that

area.

9. om(le6 legal conce(ts should be bro+en down into sim(le com(onents.

;. =artici(ants should be encouraged to s(ea+ during the cam(.

(B) M% A.%'# R"+&.3 G&' (MARG)

:arg is a non/go)ernmental organisation founded in 1@C9. ts focus is on legal

rights of women, children and other disad)antaged sections of society. The wor+

is carried out through three (rogrammesF

Legal Literacy =rogrammes

0omen and hildren =rogrmmes

Ais(lacement and Dehabilitation =rogrammes

The goal and ob2ecti)e of :-D7 has been to bring +nowledge of basic rights to

as many (eo(le as (ossible, es(ecially the economically and socially

disad)antaged women.

S&+*4 -'& 3 "&+ '- L*+ A6+""

This tas+ is achie)ed in three ways.

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1. ?irstly, by (roducing legal literacy materials.

. Secondly, by conducting legal literacy wor+sho(s with women at the

grass root le)els3 and

4. Thirdly,by (ro)iding legal counselling to (eo(le who a((roach theorgani"ation.

:-D7 uses legal awareness training +its. These +its include the followingF

:-D7 has 1< legal manuals titled #a!are Kanoon$in indi and %urLa&s$ in English. -bout 9 laws ha)e been e6(lained in a lucid mannerunder the aegis of Labour laws such as :inimum 0ages -ct, Eual

Demuneration -ct, :aternity Jenefit -ct, 0or+men om(ensation -ct3

family laws relating to indu, :uslim and hristian laws on marriage,

di)orce, maintenance, -do(tion, custody of children and (ro(erty rights.

riminal law (ro)isions such as those relating to dowry, ra(e and other

rights )is/K/)is (olice and other miscellaneous laws such as the =rotection

of i)il Dights -ct, laws on child marriage, :edical Termination of

=regnancy -ct, etc. These manuals form the (art of the training materials

in wor+sho(s held by :-D7. -ll these manuals and materials ha)e been

written in the sim(lest manner.

TARGET GROUPS

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:-D7 organi"es legal literacy cam(s for women and men, both at the urban and

rural areas in order to ma+e them aware of their rights under )arious laws. These

cam(s when held do not consist of more than 4< (artici(ants.

:-D7 has also been conducting legal literacy wor+sho(s in schools and

colleges. t also has summer cam(s where students are made )olunteers and are

also trained in certain laws, so that they can im(art that +nowledge during the

legal literacy cam(s.

These legal literacy cam(s are held with the (ur(ose of em(owering the (eo(le

through legal awareness of their rights.

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CHAPTER VII

LEGAL LITERACY: PRESENT DAY SCENARIO

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LEGAL LITERACY: PRESENT DAY SCENARIO

The go)ernment has ta+en u( many initiati)es to create legal awareness among

the (eo(le of the country. The National Legal Literacy :ission during its life of a

(eriod of fi)e years, u( till now has achie)ed success u(to an e6tent. The e6tent

of legal awareness in the (resent day scenario is uite dismal. ronically, though,

our onstitution (ro)ides for )arious measures in this regard, those who should

be ta+ing benefit of these (ro)isions are obli)ious of the fact that they ha)e such

(ri)ileges. t may be said that ins(ite of the many efforts and measures ta+en to

create legal awareness, the (resent legal literacy rates are not )ery high. =eo(le

li)ing in many of the rural (arts of the country are still not aware of their basic

rights and (ri)ileges. There are many reasons that are causing hindrances in the

way of the agencies in reaching the masses, one of the ma2or reasons being that

non5a)ailability of adeuate funds. !rgani"ing legal literacy cam(s is an

e6(ensi)e affair. The agencies in)ol)ed in im(arting legal literacy ha)e the

(aucity of funds and thus that (re)ents them from going to the )ery remote (arts

of the country.

The go)ernment is aware of the fact that the funds for the (ur(ose are limited, but

somehow it has failed to remo)e the hindrances. -nother ma2or cause for the half

success of the Legal Literacy mission is the orthodo6y (resent in the social

outloo+ of the society. :any a times, the thought of what the society may thin+ of

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a (articular act +ee(s the (eo(le, es(ecially women away from a((roaching the

concerned authorities to curb the menace. t is this outloo+ that has to be changed

and for this change to be brought about the coo(e4ration of e)ery segment of the

society is reuired.

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CHAPTER VIII

SUGGESTIONS

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SUGGESTIONS

S(reading of legal literacy should in)ol)e lawyers and 2udges because they

are much better e6(erience as well as s+illed than the non/lawyer trainers.

Legal literacy should be com(ulsorily im(arted in schools, es(ecially the

rights gi)en to them by the onstitution. This will ma+e children aware of

their )ery basic rights.

Law students should ha)e com(ulsory training (rogrammes on )arious

laws relating to social issues so that they can contribute this +nowledge in

im(arting legal literacy.

Noon/7o)ernmental !rganisations should be gi)en funds from the

go)ernment for the (ur(ose of conducting legal literacy cam(s and

wor+sho(s.

The (rint media as well as the media should be in)ol)ed more in the

s(reading of legal literacy and awareness because these are the two

mediums that reach out to most of the (eo(le, irres(ecti)e of the areas they

li)e in.

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CHAPTER I7

CONCLUSION

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CONCLUSION

t is said that gnorance of law is no e6cuse. No (erson can run away law.

Today, e)en though our 2udicial system has made great ad)ances, the (light of

many (eo(le of the wea+er sections of the society is )ery sad because they are not

aware of the basic rights that the )arious legislations enacted by the =arliament

ha)e for them. The onstitution guarantees free legal aid but this (ro)ision does

not hold well till the time the beneficiaries of the (ro)ision become aware of their

(articular right.

=o)erty and illiteracy are two ma2or hurdles in the (ath of de)elo(ment of our

country. These are also causing hindrances in the com(lete success of )arious

legislations that ha)e been enacted es(ecially for the u(liftment of the (oor and

the down trodden. E)er since the (assing of the National Legal Literacy :ission

much de)elo(ment has ta+en (lace. :any go)ernmental organi"ations and non/

go)ernmental organi"ations are in)ol)ed in creating legal awareness among the

general masses. Jut still a lot has to be done in this field. There are many issues

such as social e)ils such as dowry, female infanticide, child marriage, domestic

)iolence, etc. that still (ersist on a large scale in the society e)en after ha)ing a

number of legislations on the same. The main reason for the half success of these

legislations is the lac+ of legal awareness among (eo(le, es(ecially the (eo(le of

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the lower strata of the society. Thus, legal literacy has a big role to (lay in the

de)elo(ment of the society.

!nce the (eo(le become aware of their rights and the )arious (ro)isions of law

made for their betterment, the occurrence of these social e)ils would come down.

Legal Literacy does not in)ol)e lawyers only and is not confined to legal ser)ices

alone, such as conciliation, negotiation and arbitration. nstead, it integrates legal

wor+ with other efforts that enhance ca(acities of marginali"ed (o(ulation and

hence the termlegal em(owerment. Legal awareness would certainly get along

with it em(owerment. Thus, s(reading of legal awareness among the (ublic

should be a constant endea)our of the go)ernment so that it e6(eriences full

success in its go)ernance.

legal literacy final

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