Historic initiative launched in Bijnor under guidance of

Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi

Displaced fishermen community gains legal awareness, 20

cases settled in Lok Adalat, 42 people undergo health check-up

Lucknow, 02 July (HS): Under the patronage of Justice Vikram

Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court, Executive Chairman of the National Legal

Services Authority, New Delhi, and the able guidance of Justice Mahesh Chandra

Tripathi, Senior Judge, Allahabad High Court, Executive Chairman of the Uttar

Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, a historic initiative has been launched

by the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. The objective of this

initiative is to connect all displaced, Scheduled Tribes, forest dwellers and

other special category communities of similar nature, living in various places

of the state, who have been struggling for their livelihood with the Forest

Department and the administration for years, with the mainstream and to protect

their fundamental rights.

The initiative began in Bijnor district, where, in line with

the objectives of the National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi, the Uttar

Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, in collaboration with the District

Legal Services Authority, Bijnor, organized a legal aid and empowerment camp

for the displaced fishermen community on July 1st. The camp's primary goal was

to bridge the gap between the administration and the displaced community and ensure

that these individuals are not only aware of their rights and relevant laws but

also receive benefits from government welfare schemes.

This legal literacy camp was held at Samagra Vidyalaya,

Village-Nawalpur Barrage, Bijnor district. Dr. Manu Kalia, Member Secretary,

Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Lucknow; Sanjay Kumar VII,

District Judge, Bijnor; Jasjit Kaur, District Magistrate, Bijnor; Swati

Chandra, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority; Dr. K.G. Singh,

Superintendent of Police, Bijnor; Ranvijay Singh, Chief Development Officer,

Bijnor; Jaisingh Kushwaha, DFO, Bijnor; Ritu Rani, SDM, Bijnor; Alok Verma, PD

(DRDA), Bijnor; and other administrative officials participated. They informed

the displaced fishermen community and other members of the public about their

rights. A special Lok Adalat was also held on this occasion, in which 20 cases

were settled through reconciliation agreements.

To ensure that the benefits of various welfare schemes run

by the state government reach the most vulnerable members of the displaced

community directly, officials from the relevant departments will ensure the

registration of beneficiaries within 15 days from the camp's closing date and

provide them with the benefits of the state government's public welfare

schemes. A detailed report will be provided by the administration to the

Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bijnor, who will then forward it

to the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority. At the camp site, citizens

also apprised administrative officials of their problems, which were assured of

resolution. It was also proposed to organize similar camps in four other colonies

inhabited by displaced refugees, including Ghasi Wala, Hemraj, Chandpura, and

Dharamnagari.

The camp continued until late evening, with children, the

elderly, and women participating enthusiastically in large numbers. A medical

camp was also organized on this occasion, where a total of 42 individuals were

examined, counseled, and provided with medication by the medical team. This is

a unique initiative of its kind, and it is proposed to organize special camps

for underprivileged people and those in conflict with the law in various

districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi