IN THE MONTH OF APRIL- 2010

PARTICIPATION IN DISCUSSION OF NIGHT SHELTERS

Centre for Public Policy organized a Round Table discussion on Night Shelters -A Dire Need under the aegis of Rai Foundation in which Ms. Asha Menon, Member Secretary, Delhi Legal Services Authority was a panelist. This was held at India International Centre Annexe, 40, Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi on 23rd April, 2010 between 3 PM to 5 PM.

LECTURE ON MAINTENANCE AND WELFARE OF PARENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS ACT

Department of Social Welfare, Govt. of NCT of Delhi in collaboration with Anugraha (NGO) organized a one day State Level Workshop cum Consultative Meet on "Empowering Elderly for Active & Productive Ageing: Sensitization, Awareness Generation & Capacity Building of Stakeholders" on 16th April, 2010 at Purva Sanskriti Kendra (PSK), 14, District Center, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi. Ms. Asha Menon, Member Secretary, Delhi Legal Services Authority delivered a lecture on "Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007: Implementing Mechanisms". Pamphlets and Booklets prepared by Delhi Legal Services Authority on Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 were distributed amongst the participants.

WORKSHOP ON TOBACCO HAZARDS

Delhi Medical Association in collaboration with Delhi Legal Services Authority organized a workshop on Tobacco Hazards & De-Addiction for doctors on 23rd April, 2010 at India International Centre Conference Hall in which Mr. Gautam Manan, Project Officer, Delhi Legal Services Authority addressed the audience on "Smoke Free Laws with Special Emphasis on Sec 4 of Cigarettes and other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA)" and highlighted the issues and informed people about the law relating to smoking.

WORKSHOPS ON LEGAL LITERACY

Delhi Legal Services Authority organized Workshops at Springdales School on 9th April, 2010 for the students of 12th Standard and on 17th April, 2010 for the students of 11th Standard. The Workshops were conducted by Ms. Geetanjli Goel, Metropolitan Magistrate-Cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Committee, Patiala House Courts. In an interactive session with students she spread awareness among the students on law relating to traffic/accidents, drugs and constitutional law.

FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP WITH MISSION CONVERGENCE

In a sequel to the MOU signed by the Director, Mission Convergence and Member Secretary, DLSA, the partnership was formally announced by Ms. Sheila Dixit, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Delhi between Delhi Legal Services Authority and Mission Convergence at the function organized at GRC Cequin on 23rd April, 2010 at 11:00 AM. The Programme was attended by a large gathering of women and also present were Shri Rakesh Mehta, Chief Secretary; Smt. Rashmi Singh, Director, Mission Convergence; Mr. Parida, Secretary, Welfare and Shri Vivek Pandey, DC South.

LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME

A Legal Awareness & Legal Aid Programme was organised by Delhi Legal Services Authority in partnership with Adharshila on 28th April, 2010 at Adharshila Welfare Centre, GRC-SK, Hauz Rani, New Delhi. Sh. S.S.Tandan, Counsellor, Delhi Legal Services Authority addressed the gathering and rendered legal aid and assistance. 30 persons benefited from the camp as their problems were directly addressed by Sh. S.S. Tandan who gave appropriate advice. Information booklets of DLSA were also distributed to the public in general for Legal Awareness.

LEGAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME

Mission Convergence organized a Workshop with Delhi Legal Services Authority on the topic 'Building Alliance to End Violence against Women' on 30th April, 2010 at Conference Room no. 3, Level 2, Delhi Secretariat, Delhi. Mr. Gautam Manan, Project Officer, Delhi Legal Services Authority addressed the audiences on functioning of Delhi Legal Services Authority and also delivered the Concluding Remarks in the programme.

IN THE MONTH OF MARCH- 2010

1. On the occasion of the 100th Women's Day Celebration on 8th March 2010, the Delhi Legal Services Authority organized 9 legal awareness camps. The Secretaries of each of the District Committees addressed a Community Programme in their District. The Secretaries not only apprised the gathering about the functions of DLSA but also heard the problems of women and rendered advice to them. All the Programmes were very successful and were attended by a large gathering of women. Our information booklets and other awareness material/pamphlets were also distributed in the community.

2. Legal Awareness Programme was organized by DLSA on 30.3.2010 in association with Adharsheela-NGO, working for the Women. Sh.S.S.Tandan, Counsellor with DLSA addressed the gathering. The general public was made aware about the rights of women. Information booklets were distributed freely and necessary advice was given to the persons who approached the Counsellor of DLSA with their problems.

3. The Delhi Legal Services Authority is involved with the Govt. of N.C.T of Delhi's initiative to make Delhi a Smoke Free Zone by October, 2010. The Delhi Legal Services Authority is not only to provide support in enforcement but is also actively involved in spreading awareness of the Anti-Smoking & Tobacco Laws. In continuation of this Programme, Sh. Gautam Manan, Project Officer, DLSA addressed two seminars organized by State Tobacco Control Cell on 22.3.2010 and 30.3.2010. The Target Group addressed was comprised of NDMC officials, Principals, Vice Principals and Senior Teachers of NDMC Schools. The various issues relating to Central Tobacco Control Act, 2003 & Delhi Prohibition & Smoking and Non-Smoker's Health Protection Act, 1996 were discussed in these two Seminars.

4. The Delhi Legal Services Authority also participated in the National Legal Services Authority's statutory Meet at Chandigarh on 13th & 14th March, 2010. In the statutory meeting of DLSA, the NALSA's draft Plan for 2010-11 was also conveyed and discussed. In this context, the suggestion of Prof. Kamla Sankaran for DLSA's participation in developing a curriculum for a basic introduction to law at college level was also unanimously accepted. It was also decided to go ahead with the creation of Legal Literacy Clubs in the Schools for which preliminary data has already been gathered. The efforts of DLSA in encouraging Corporate/Banks etc. participating in Lok Adalats to spend on socially disadvantaged groups under their CSR, elicited a great deal of interest at the National Meet. Delhi also offered technical assistance in setting up Websites with monitoring facilities by other State Legal Services Authorities. DLSA's work was generally commended at the Meet.

5. On the directions of the Hon'ble Executive Chairman, the DLSA has extended Video Conferencing Facility to all those jail inmates whose cases are being represented by legal aid lawyers in all the District Court complexes. These Video Conferences are conducted in the presence of the Secretaries of DLSCs who also supervise the Video Conferencing. A protocol in this regard has also been drawn-up & circulated. The Secretaries are to ensure that the jail inmates are encouraged to speak first so that there is a good and carefree interaction with the jail inmates and their lawyers about issues they want to discuss. The jail inmates have greatly benefited from this facility as they have now an opportunity to enquire about the progress of their case and advise their legal-aid lawyer appearing in their matter just as in any other lawyer-client relationship for effective representation of their case before the Court.

IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY - 2010

1. Awareness Programme: Awareness Programme was organized by Delhi Legal Services Authority in association with Maa Jawala Ji Darbar Dharmarth Trust on 14th February, 2010 at Karawal Nagar, New Delhi for the welfare of women. Sh. Gautam Manan, Project Officer, Delhi Legal Services Authority addressed the gathering and the general public was made aware about the rights of women and activities of Delhi Legal Services Authority. The Information Booklets of DLSA were also distributed freely.

2. Information Booklet : In order to spread awareness amongst the masses the Delhi Legal Services Authority and its activities, the Delhi Legal Services Authority has published an Information Booklet in Hindi and English setting out the mandate of the Legal Services Authorities Act -1987, eligibility criteria and the various activities of the Authority, so that weaker sections of the society are not deprived of free and competent legal services by reason of economic or other disabilities.

3. Radio Jingles: To give wide publicity and to create awareness amongst the masses, the Delhi Legal Services Authority has started advertising through Radio Jingles. During February, 2010 the Jingles were aired on Red FM and Radio City with the aim of reaching the public at large and make them aware of the monthly Lok Adalats on the Second Saturday of every month for all types of cases, in order to settle disputes pending in the Courts as also at the pre-litigative stage amicably, thereby saving time, effort and money of parties and the Courts.

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY - 2010

1. A Legal Awareness & Legal Aid Programme was organised by Delhi Legal Services Authority in partnership with Adharshila on 20th January, 2010 at Adharshila Welfare Centre, GRC-SK, Hauz Rani, New Delhi. Sh. S.S.Tandan, Counsellor, Delhi Legal Services Authority attended the programme and spread legal awareness amongst the community. The counsellor heard the cases of 25-30 beneficiaries and gave appropriate advice. About 450 pamphlets, brochures and booklets of DLSA on Legal Awareness and activities of DLSA were also distributed to the public in general.

2. Another Awareness Programme was organised by Society for Securing Justice (Regd.) on 23rd January, 2010 at Jahangir Puri, Delhi which was conducted by Sh. Gautam Manan, Project Officer, Delhi Legal Services Authority and Sh. P.C. Ranga, Retired District & Sessions Judge, Delhi & Counsellor, Delhi Legal Services Authority. The general public was made aware about the activities of Delhi Legal Services Authority.