Schemes to make Indian Agriculture Climate Resilient

Ministry of Agriculture has intensified implementation of various schemes/programmes to make Indian Agriculture climate resilient by embedding and mainstreaming various adaption measures. Notable among these schemes/programmes are Macro Management of Agriculture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Food Security Mission, National Horticulture Mission and National Mission on Micro Irrigation.

Further, Ministry of Agriculture has been implementing National Network Project on Climate Change and has also launched National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture for studying impacts of climate change on Indian Agriculture. 

Agro produce has not registered any decline due to climate change and advancement of the seasonal cycle period. On the contrary, production of food grain has reached a record level of 244.78 million tonne during 2010-11. During the same period, country has also witnessed highest ever production in wheat, pulses, oilseeds and cotton. 

Welfare Schemes for Women

A number of welfare schemes for women have been undertaken by the Government of India. The details of such schemes under implementation by Ministry of Women and Child Development are as under:

      i.          Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the Children of Working Mothers (RGNCS) provides day care facilities to the children in the age group 0-6 years from families with monthly income of less than 12000/-. In addition to being a safe space for the children, the crèches provide services such as supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and emergency health care, etc.

    ii.          CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD : The main women welfare Related schemes and programmes being implemented by CSWB are as under:-

·      Family Counselling Centres: It was introduced in 1983.  The centres provide counselling, referral and rehabilitative services to women and children who are victims of atrocities, family maladjustment and social ostracism. They also provide crisis intervention and trauma counselling in case of natural disasters.

·      Awareness Generation Programme: This scheme aims at creating awareness amongst women and the community at large on rights, status and problems of women in particular and other social concerns.

·      Condensed courses of education for women: This scheme caters to the needs of girls/women who could not join mainstream education system or who were drop outs from formal schools.  The scheme aims to provide educational opportunities to girls/women above the age of 15 years along with additional inputs of skill development/vocational training.  The contents of the course are need based and modified according to local requirement.

  iii.          NATIONAL MISSION FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (NMEW) is an initiative of the Government of India for empowering women holistically. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme sanctioned in April 2011 and acts as an umbrella Mission with a mandate to strengthen inter-sectoral convergence and facilitate the process of coordination of all the women’s welfare and socio-economic development programmes across Ministries and Departments. NMEW is being implemented in all the 35 States and Union Territories.

  iv.          WORKING WOMEN’S HOSTEL (WWH) Scheme envisages provision of safe and affordable hostel accommodation to working women, single working women, women working at places away from their home-towns and for women being trained for employment. The scheme has been revised recently.

    v.          SUPPORT TO TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME (STEP) for Women was launched as a Central Sector Scheme during 1986-87. It aims at making a significant impact on women by upgrading skills for self and wage employment. The target group includes the marginalized assetless rural Women and urban poor. This also includes wagelabourers, unpaid daily workers, female headed households, migrant labourers, tribal and other dispossessed groups, with special focus on SC/ST households, women headed households and families below the poverty line.

  vi.          RASHTRIYA MAHILA KOSH (RMK) with a corpus of Rs.100 crore extends micro-finance services to bring about the socio-economic upliftment of poor women. Credit is provided to the poor women beneficiaries through IntermediaryMicrofinancing Organisations (IMOs) working at grass root level such as NGOs, Women Federations, Co-operatives, not for profit companies registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act and other Voluntary/Civil society organisations etc. by following a client friendly, simple, without collateral, for livelihood and income generation activities, housing and micro-enterprises.

vii.          Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood Programme in Mid-Gangetic PlaIn (WELP) also calledPriyadarshini is being implemented with assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development in 13 Blocks spread over 5 Districts in Uttar Pradesh i.e. Bahraich, CSM Nagar, Raebareli, Shravasti and Sultanpur and 2 Districts Madhubani andSitamarhi in Bihar. It aims at holistic empowerment of vulnerable groups of women and adolescent girls in the project area through formation of Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) and promotion of improved livelihood opportunities. Over 1,00,000households are to be covered under the project and 7,200 SHGs will be formed during the project period ending 2016-17. The beneficiaries are expected to be empowered to address their political, legal and health issues through rigorous capacity building. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development is the lead programme agency for implementation of theprogramme which became effective in December 2009.  

viii.          Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) is a Conditional Cash Transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating (P&L) women introduced in the October 2010 to contribute to better enabling environment by providing cash incentivesfor improved health and nutrition to pregnant and nursing mothers. It envisages providing cash to P&L women during pregnancy and lactation in response to individual fulfilling specific conditions. It addresses short term income support objectives with long term objective of behaviour and attitudinal change.  The scheme attempts to partly compensate for wage loss to P&L women both prior to and after delivery of the child. The scheme is being implemented initially on pilot basis in 52 selected districts using the platform of ICDS. 12.5 lakh P&L women are expected to be covered every year under IGMSY. The beneficiaries are paid 4000/ in three  instalments per P&L women between the second trimester till the child attains the age of 6 months on fulfilling specific conditions related to maternal and child health .

  ix.          SWADHAR GREH SCHEME: The Ministry of Women and Child Development had been administering Swadharscheme since 2001 for Women in difficult circumstances. Under the Scheme, temporary accommodation, maintenance and rehabilitative services are provided to women and girls rendered homeless due to family discord, crime, violence, mental stress, social ostracism. Another scheme with similar objectives/target groups namely Short Stay Home (SSH) was being implemented by Central Social Welfare Board.  Being similar in objectives and target groups, both the schemes have been merged toSwadhar Greh scheme with revised financial parameters.

    x.          UJJAWALA is a comprehensive scheme for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Funds are released to NGOs as the scheme is being implemented mainly through NGOs.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MINORITIES: Instilling a Sense of Confidence Among the Five Religious Minorities

The National Commission for Minorities was set up in 1993 as a statutory body with the purpose of instilling a sense of confidence among the five religious minorities that the laws of the land and the constitutional rights and freedoms are respected by the State. The NCM is enjoined to carry out research and institute studies to assess the functioning of the constitutional rights and safeguards and assess the progress of the development of minorities in both the Union and the States.

During the year 2011-2012 the National Commission for Minorities carried out on the spot visits to three riot affected areas:

• Forbesganj in Araria district of Bihar where 4 Muslims were killed in police firing. The Commission recommended that the police personnel responsible for opening fire on the crowd should be brought to book and also recommended compensation to those killed and injured in the firing.

• Bharatpur in Rajasthan where again a clash between the police, the Meos and the Gujjars had resulted in the death of 10 persons. The Commission rushed a two member team consisting of Ms Syeda Imam and Mr. K.N.Daruwalla to Bharatpur to study the situation. The NCM recommended both short term and long term measures for sensitization of district officials and the police in particular to minority sensibilities. The District Magistrate, SP and ASP were all suspended on the recommendation of NCM

• Rudrapur in Uttarakhand where a clash between two groups had resulted in violence and death of 4 persons and large scale damage to public and private property including arson and looting. The NCM team headed by Mr. K.N. Daruwalla visited the incident spot and met the affected families. Recommendations included activation of Mohalla peace committees and sensitization of police personnel and transfer of all police personnel who played a biased role

The arrest of large number of Muslim youth and their long periods of detention in jails without adequate evidence was a matter of concern to the Commission. The Commission was also agitated that after years of being under trials, sometimes for more than a decade, the police were not able to prove the charges. The acquitted youth were not properly rehabilitated and in extreme cases not allowed to lead normal lives after their acquittal and they were looked upon suspiciously by the society.

In this context the Commission had taken up with the states and the Union government the need to have speedy trial and to strengthen and make the prosecution branch independent and critical so that before a case is filed the prosecution branch is able to question the police arrests and check the infallibility of the evidence. The Commission had taken up with the Andhra Pradesh government the rehabilitation of the Muslim youth who had been acquitted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in the Mecca Masjid blasts. The State Government has positively responded has taken action for financial assistance of Rs. 70 lakhs to the 20 Muslim youths who were acquitted by the Courts.

Issues of Christians taken up by the Commission included incidents of profiling of Christians in Madhya Pradesh where a census of Christian organizations and churches was ordered by the Bhopal police, the anti Christian propaganda carried out in the last year’s Khumb Mela in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh and harassment of Christians in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh for holding prayer meetings in their houses –a right guaranteed to them under the Constitution. The non -registration of police cases against policemen who publicly insulted a brother in Bangalore, the registration of a frivolous case against 3 priests for performing the last rites of a “Hindu” believer in Madhya Pradesh were resolved with the intervention of the Commission. The policeman in Bangalore was suspended and inquiry is on. In the case of the Madhya Pradesh incident the police cases were withdrawn.

During the year the Commission also tried to calm the frayed sensibilities of the Buddhists who were agitated by the adverse media reports on the Karmapa. The Commission took up the matter with the Government as well as with Broadcast Councils so that the media can be a little more sensitized when reporting such matters. The Buddhist Member, Ms Spalzes Angmo also took up the issue of the construction of multiple hydel projects in Sikkim across the Rothung Chu river (a river considered holy to the Buddhists) with the Sikkim Government in the aftermath of the Sikkim earthquake. According to media reports two of these three projects have been scrapped while the third is under review. The management of the Bodhgaya Temple has continued to be a matter of concern

The Commission took suo moto cognizance of a media report regarding incident of alleged massacre of Sikhs in Village of Chhillar in Rewari District of Haryana in 1984 and inaction on rehabilitation of victims by Government was taken up with the Haryana Chief Minister. The Chief Minister had setup a Commission of inquiry headed by retired Judge of Allahabad High Court to go into the facts of the case. Other issues relating to the Sikhs which were taken up include constitution of separate Committee of Gurdwara in Haryana, implementation of Punjabi as 2nd language, for making efforts to start Punjabi programmes from All India Radio and Doordarshan Kendra.

Issues relating to the declining number of Parsis, proper reservation and help to the indigent Parsis were taken up with the State and Central Governments. The Member representing the Parsis has also taken up with the Finance Minister, the difficulties that the Parsi charitable organizations will face in case the Direct Tax Code n its present form is implemented. During the current Financial Year till February, 2012, total 20 cases were heard in NCM. The NCM received a total of 2336 complaints concerning grievances. Out of these complaints 588 were disposed of and the remaining complaints are under process/ forwarded to the concerned department for report/necessary action.

During the year two research studies were taken up: one on the "Effects of recent recessions as well as liberalization of Indian Economy on the workforce engaged in small, cottage and handicrafts work, particularly on Muslim minority of India and identification of areas of these effects as well as remedies thereof" and "Compilation of important legal text and case laws on Minority Rights".

Empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institutions

The national level plan for improving the functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is chalked out in the Roadmap for Panchayati Raj (2011-2017). The Roadmap logically delineates the issues and specific action plans within the larger governance framework for creating an effective Panchayati Raj structure. It highlights key aspects for empowerment, enablement and accountability of the PRIs for better governance and faster development, includes devolution of functions, funds and functionaries as envisaged in the Constitution, Capacity Building of the Panchayats and Functionaries, decentralized planning, effective implementation of Panchayats (Extention to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), empowered elected village councils in the Sixth Scheduled Areas and changes in the constitutional and legal framework. This national Roadmap is enabled and assisted by the Government by the provision of funds under several schemes, the most important of which are

• The Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) provides untied grants to the Panchayats in the backward regions in order to reduce development deficits of the country, with the requirement that the District Plans for utilization of the grant be prepared by the involvement of the Gram Sabhas.

• The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) which aims at capacity building and training of the elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions as well as the Functionaries.

The Central Government also provides funds to the State Governments under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) to redress regional imbalances in development of backward districts in the country. The strategy aims at promoting the performance and capacity of Panchayats, in planning, decision, making, implementation and monitoring. In addition to the BRGF, the following schemes for empowerment of Panchayats are being implemented:

• Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana: Funds are released to States for training and capacity building of Panchayati Raj Institutions in districts uncovered by the BRGF.

• Rural Business Hubs: This Scheme aims to assist the Panchayats to empower rural labour productivity by providing forward backward linkages with technical assistance in Public-Private-Partnership.

• Panchayat Manila`Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan:. It aims to enable women and youth Panchayat leaders to come together to articulate their problems as women Panchayat Leaders. 

• E-Panchayat: For computerizing the databases, accounts and other functions of the Gram Panchayats for accountability and transparency.

• Panchayat Empowerment & Accountability Incentive Scheme: To recognize and incentivize the efforts of Panchayats with respect to transparency, accountability and efficiency and of States with respect to devolution of funds, functions and functionaries to Panchayats.

Marketing and Development of Tribal Products by TRIFED

The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED) came in to existence in1987 and got registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act 1984 (now the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002). It started functioning in 1988 under the Administrative control of the Ministry of Welfare, Govt. of India, (presently the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India).The main objective of TRIFED is to serve the interests of its members in more than one State for the social and economic betterment of its members by conducting its affairs in professional, democratic and autonomous manner through self help and mutual cooperation for undertaking marketing development of the tribal products. After the new Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 came into force, TRIFED amended its Bye-Laws  in 2003 and started functioning as a Service provider, Facilitator, Coordinator and a Market Developer for tribal products instead of its earlier activity of procurement and sale of Minor Forest Produce & Surplus Agricultural Produce. It has its Registered and Head Office located in New Delhi and has a net work of 13 Regional Offices located at various places in the country and a Central Warehouse at Delhi. TRIFED has been doing the retail marketing of tribal products through 27 own outlets under the brand name called TRIBES INDIA and also through 14 State Emporia on consignment basis. It aims to improve the livelihood of the tribal communities by creating a sustainable market and create business opportunities for them based on their cultured knowledge and traditional skills whilst ensuring fair and equitable remuneration. For this purpose, TRIFED is marketing tribal products through its owned 27 unique showrooms and 15 consigned showrooms in association with State level Organizations promoting handicrafts. In order to expand showrooms TRIFED has recently established showrooms at Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Indore in Madhya Pradesh and at GPO, Mumbai in Maharashtra.

Major Activities

Exhibitions: On Developmental side, TRIFED started organizing National Tribal Craft Expo - AADISHILP. Tribal artisans/ groups / organizations are invited to participate in this Expo and showcase their rich tribal heritage. The main objective in holding these events is to provide an opportunity to tribal artisans to showcase their ethnic crafts and to interact directly with art lovers to learn about their taste and preferences.  This helps them in adapting their product designs and creations accordingly. It has organized Aadishilp at Shimla, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Bangalore, Jaipur and New Delhi, beside organizing the same regularly every year at Dilli Haat.  The event also includes tribal dance performances. It is an attempt to present tribal art and culture in holistic manner, which has been received well by the customers.

Encouraging response was given to exhibition of tribal products held at Amritsar, Jallandhar and Delhi organized by TRIFED. It Has also participates in the OCTAVE - a dance festival of North Eastern Region, organized by Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. From 2008-09 onwards TRIFED is also associated with this event. TRIFED organizes participation of artisan from North Eastern region and provide them the opportunity to showcase and market their products. TRIFED participated in OCTAVE festivals organized at Goa, Mumbai, Trivandrum, Patna  Surat & Kolkata.   

International Fairs: TRIFED identified Santa Fe, USA Folk art market as one of the place where tribal products can be exhibited and marketed.. It is an annual event and TRIFED will encourage its artisans to participate in this folk art market to promote tribal products. One stall was allotted to TRIFED at Santa Fe Folk Art Market, USA during the month of July 2009 where products worth app Rs.13.50 lakhs were sold in two days. It intends to participate in Cairo International Fair, organised at Nasr City in Egypt from 17-26 March 2011to promote tribal products.

Tribal Artisan Melas: TRIFED initiated a new concept of organizing Tribal Artisan Mela (TAM) as an exercise to reach tribals located in interior tribal areas and source tribal art and craft directly from the tribal artisans/group of artisan. As per this initiative, TRIFED in association with State Govt. /organizations invites tribal artisans to an exhibition area where they bring their items. TRIFED depute its Merchandising team to these Melas to identify the items which can be marketed through its outlets and also suggests the modifications if any, required to make the items more marketable. This initiative not only helps in sourcing unique tribal art and craft but also helps in spreading message about TRIFED’s activities and how tribal can avail of the benefits of TRIFED’s activities. During the current year, TRIFED organised seven Tribal Artisan Mela at Rekong & Kelong (HP), Gangtok (Sikkim), Vansda & Vyara (Gujarat) , Mandla (MP) and Dimapur (Nagaland) wherein 303 tribal artisans participated.

Training

Retail Training: The main activities of TRIFED as per the Roadmap of fifth plan period from (2007-08 to 2011-12) assigns the following four main activities to TRIFED:-

1. Retail Marketing Development

2. Minor Forest Produce Marketing Development

3. Skill up-gradation & Capacity Building of ST Artisans and MFP Gatherers

4. R&D Development/IPR Activity

Presently TRIFED is marketing tribal products through 40 outlets out of which 26 outlets are its own and 14 outlets on consignment basis in association with state level organizations promoting handicrafts.  TRIFED also participates in various exhibitions and fairs to promote the tribal art. Another event is Tribal Artisans Mela .  Tribals draw sustenance and income including their requirement for food, fodder, fruits, medicines, shelter, rituals, recreations and cultural activities from the forest. “Minor forest produce” includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin including bamboo, brush wood, stumps, cane, tassar, cocoons, honey, wax, lac, tendu or kendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, roots, tubers and the like.  TRIFED envisages to upgrade the skills of MFP gatherers and

For Skill up-gradation & Capacity Building of ST Artisans:

TRIFED imparts three level of trainings:
i.       Primary Level Training (PLT)
ii.      PLT-cum-Design Workshop Training followed by Reinforcement Training (PLT-DWT-T)

iii.     Design Workshop Training (DWT)

TRIFED has established a Quality Control Research & Development Centre at NSC Beej Bhawan, IARI Campus, Pusa Complex, New Delhi 110012. Its R&D Centre is equipped with modern/sophisticated instruments to test & certify internal samples like Spices, MFPs like Honey & Tamarind, Dry fruits, Herbal Products, Processed Meat & fish products.

MFP Training & Development: Forest provides for 60% of the food & medicinal needs of tribals and 60% of their income.  As per Recognition of Forest Rights, Act 2006 “Minor Forest Produce” includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin including bamboo, brush wood, stumps, cane, tassar, cocoons, honey, wax, lac, tendu or kendu leaves, medicinal plants and herbs, roots, tubers and the like. TRIFED undertakes the following broad activities in the MFP sector:

(1) Vocational Training, Skill Up-gradation & Capacity Building of MFP  Gatherers

(2) MFP Marketing Development  activity 

Under the first activity, TRIFED is providing various trainings for skill up gradation of Honey Gatherers and Gum Pickers.  

Under the second activity, TRIFED promotes value added products of tamarind and its by-products, value added products of Honey and its by-products, trains Mahuwa Flower collectors on the best practices of Mahuwa Flower collection, drying/ primary processing, grading, packing, value addition, storage & marketing etc., train & demonstrate scientific method of cultivation of Lac for sustained Lac production, train the tribals in leaf cup/plate making to enhance the quantity and quality of production by use of machines. With a produce of about 55000 tons of honey per annum, India is the sixth largest producer of honey in the world.  A large number of tribal population & forest dwellers earn a livelihood from the collection of wild forest honey which forms a major chunk of honey produce.

           

According to one estimate, India has a potential for about 120 million bee colonies, which can provide self-employment to over 6 million rural & tribal families.  In terms of production, these bee colonies can produce over 1.2 million tons of honey and about 15,000 tons of bee wax.  Organized collection of wild honey & bee wax using improved methods can result in an additional production of at least 1,20,000 tons of honey & 10,000 tons of beewax.  This can generate income to about 5 million tribal families. Presently the collection, processing and marketing of wild honey is unorganized.  There is no authentic information readily available on wild honey relating to the quantum of collection, traditional tribes collecting the honey, its demand and supply position, different varieties of honey based on its flora/ bee species, major sourcing areas, procuring agencies, processing industries, marketing agencies, etc. which is very essential for efficient and effective regulation of trade of this commodity. Realizing the need for coordination and linkage among stake holders in wild honey and to develop the market of wild honey in an organized manner, TRIFED has taken the initiative to create a “Wild Honey Network”.

Handicraft Training: Since time immemorial craft sector in India has grown in its spontaneity from one generation to the next by the inherent creative aptitude of the people to work with natural resources of our country.  Later the subsistence need of the people have ensured more dependence on the sector and made it a flourishing economic activity. Notwithstanding the phenomena of worldwide recession, industrial sickness, natural calamities etc. all over, this sector has been registering steady growth in terms of export and foreign exchange earning besides providing gainful employment (both fulltime and part-time) to around 8 million artisans of the country of which a large section belong to socio-economically poor and marginalized population.

At present, craft sector has assumed 1/5^th share of the total house-hold industry in the country.  But unfortunately the revenues earned from this sector are not adequately reaching the artisans and crafts persons who remain at the mercy of middleman, trader and exporter for both sustained earning and exposure to the marketable designs with change frequently with time.  In order to address this problem and safeguard as well as promote the craft and tribal artisans involved in this sector, TRIFED has envisaged undertaking Skill Up gradation Trainings and Design Development Workshops.Out of the handicraft artisans of disadvantaged communities, tribal artisans are the target beneficiaries as per the mandate of the TRIFED. These tribal beneficiaries pursue handicraft activity on individual basis in their house-hold set up.  Thus their family income is abysmally less as against the effort made by them in producing and selling the handicraft items.  Hence there is a necessity to organize them into producer groups and offer them a platform so that they can leverage the benefits of various interventions made by Govt. organizations including TRIFED.  Towards this end, TRIFED has been implementing the following activities:-

1. Skill Upgradation Training & Design Development Workshop for the tribal artisans.

2. Networking with other organizations to gather the tribal artisans and give them technological and marketing support.

3. Collaborating with premier Design Institute for providing training to artisans on current design trends as per market taste and preference.

4. Institutionalising tribal artisan group in the form of Federation.

National Legal Services Authority : Performance – Cum - Achievements

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to monitor and evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes and to lay down policies and principles for making legal services available under the Act. Actually, Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides for free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the society and ensures justice for all.  Articles 14 and 22(1) of the Constitution also make it obligatory for the State to ensure equality before law and a legal system which promotes justice on the basis of equal opportunity to all.  In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was enacted by the Parliament which came into force on 9^th November, 1995 to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.

In every State, a State Legal Services Authority and in every High Court, a High Court Legal Services Committee have been constituted. District Legal Services Authorities, Taluk Legal Services Committees have been constituted in the Districts and most of the Taluks to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to provide free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State. 

Supreme Court Legal Services Committee has been constituted to administer and implement the legal services programme insofar as it relates to the Supreme Court of India.

NALSA lays down policies, principles, guidelines and frames effective and economical schemes for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the Legal Services Programmes throughout the country.

Primarily, the State Legal Services Authorities, District Legal Services Authorities, Taluk Legal Services Committees, etc. have been asked to discharge the following main functions on regular basis:

I.                   To Provide Free and Competent Legal Services to the eligible persons;

II.                To organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes; and

III.             To organize legal awareness camps in the rural areas.  

During the financial year 2011-12, the National Legal Services Authority had a Plan of Action and Calendar for Activities adopted by the meeting of the State Legal Services Authorities held at Bhubaneshwar, Orrisa on 19-20 March, 2011.  The highlights of the National Plan of Action for the financial year 2011-12 are as under:

Ø  Ensuring free, competent effective and comprehensive legal services.

Ø  Legal services focused on women

Ø  Rights of children-increasing legal services to the children

Ø  Strengthening the role of para-legal volunteers (PLVs) in legal services

Ø  Setting up of legal aid clinics in villages in the most economic and effective manner

Ø  Legal services to workers in the unorganized sector

Ø  Paving way for social justice litigation for environmental protection

Ø  Training of Member-Secretaries of SLSAs and functionaries of the District Legal Services Authorities

Ø  Establishment of legal aid clinics in Universities, Law Colleges and other institutions

Ø  Legal literacy amongst school and college students and setting up of legal literacy clubs and legal awareness camps

Ø  Ensuring commitment to Part IV-A of the Constitution

Ø  Continuing with the special programmes for North-Eastern States

Ø  Use of NALSA’s website and NALSA’s web-based monitoring system

Ø  Social audit of the legal services activities

Ø  Judicial academies to be a platform for legal services programmes and sensitization

The Plan of Action envisaged the setting up of legal aid clinics in all villages or for a cluster of villages to be manned by para-legal volunteers (PLVs) and start legal aid clinics in all law colleges and law universities. NALSA has notified the National Legal Services Authority (Legal Aid Clinics) Regulations, 2011 and published in the Gazette of India giving statutory backing to its Legal Aid Clinics Scheme.

Though the State Legal Services Authorities had financial and manpower constraints for implementing the National Plan of Action to its full extent, attempts have been made by State Legal Services Authorities for implementing the National Plan of Action 2011-12.

           

During the period from 1^st April, 2011 to 30^th September, 2011 more than 6.95 lakh persons have benefited through legal aid services in the country.  Out of them, more than 25.1 thousand persons belonged to the Scheduled Castes, about 11.5 thousand Scheduled Tribes, about 24.6 thousand were women and 1.6 thousand were children.  During this period, 53,508 Lok Adalats were organised.  These Lok Adalats settled more than 13.75 lakh cases.  In about 39.9 thousand Motor Vehicle Accident Claim cases, compensation to the tune of      Rs. 420.12 crore has been awarded.

NALSA has organized the following programmes during the period from April, 11 to December, 2011 to achieve its objectives:

·                                 On the directions of NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities observed International Labour Day on 1^st May, 2011.  Various programmes like legal literacy classes for labourers, lok adalats for settlement of disputes pertaining to workers/MGNREGA, sensitization workshop etc. were organized on this occasion.

·                                 NALSA in association with the U.T. of Lakshadweep Legal Services Authority and Lakshadweep Administration organised  a Legal Literacy Programme at Agathi on   14-15 May, 2011. Honble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA inaugurated the programme. In the Lok Adalat that followed, the Member-Secretary, NALSA and the District Judge, Kavarathy disposed of 7 cases including a second appeal pending before the High Court.

·                                 On the directions of NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities observed World Environment Day on 5^th June, 2011. 

·                                 On the directions of NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities observed World Day against Child Labour on 12^th June, 2011.  Various programmes were organized on abolition of child labour.

·                                 National Legal Services Authority in association with Delhi State Legal Services Authority organized a National Seminar on “Access to Justice : What it means to a Child” on 9-10 July, 2011 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA inaugurated the Seminar.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra, Chief Justice, Delhi High Court and Patron-in-Chief, Delhi State Legal Services Authority presided over the function.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vikramajit Sen, Judge, Delhi High Court and Executive Chairman, Delhi State Legal Services Authority delivered the key-note address. Hon’ble Mr. Justice S.S. Nijjar, Judge, Supreme Court of India attended the inaugural function. Hon’ble Executive Chairpersons and Member Secretaries of the State Legal Services Authorities, Directors of State Judicial Academies, 3 Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committees and 3 Judicial Magistrates of Juvenile Justice Boards from each States participated in the Seminar.

As a follow up of the National Seminar several meeting were held at NALSA office and it was decided to draft a Bill for amending Section 41 of the Juvenile Justice Act and also to draft a Bill on “Special Adoption”.

·                                 National Legal Services Authority in association with the U.P. State Legal Services Authority organised a programme “Legal Training to Judicial officers, Lawyers and Law Students on Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and Juvenile Justice System” on 11^th September, 2011 at Amity University, Nodia.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Almatamas Kabir, Jude, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA inaugurated the programme in the august presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra, Judge, Supreme Court of India (the then Chief Justice, Delhi High Court), Hon’ble Mr. Justice Amitava Lala, Judge, Allahabad High Court and Executive Chairman, U.P. State Legal Services Authority, Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri, Judge, Delhi High Court and Executive Chairman, Delhi State Legal Services Authority and other Hon’ble Judges of Allahabad High Court.

·                                 On the directions of NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities observed Senior Citizen’s Day on 1^st October, 2011.  Various programmes for senior citizens informing them about their rights and welfare measures with the assistance of the Social Welfare Department were organized on this occasion.

·                                 On the directions of NALSA, the State Legal Services Authorities observed World Mental Health Day on 10^th October, 2011.  Various programmes were organized on this occasion.

·                                 A meeting was organized at Constitution Club of India New Delhi which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman of NALSA. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee delivered the special address.  Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri, Acting Chief Justice Delhi High Court and Executive Chairman, Delhi State Legal Services Authority delivered the key-note address.  A large number of Judges of Delhi High Court and Subordinate Judiciary, Panel Lawyers and law students attended the meeting.

On the directions of National Legal Services Authority, the State Legal Services Authorities observed the National Legal Services Day on 9th November, 2011. Various programmes were organized at State, High Court, District and Taluk levels.

Advertisements were inserted by NALSA on 9th November, 2011 in the newspapers of all regional languages as a publicity measure to reach out to the people.

• As a part of protecting and enforcing the rights of children, NALSA directed the State Legal Services Authorities to observe the Children’s Day on 14th November, 2011 and suitable programmes be organised involving children belonging to marginalized sections of the society. 

NALSA in association with High Court of Delhi, Delhi State Legal Services Authority and Delhi Family Courts organised Children’s Day Celebrations on 14th November, 2011 at the lawns of High Court of Delhi. The merriful celebration was organised to recognize the rights of children for the full and harmonious development of their personality, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman of NALSA,  Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Hon’ble Mr. Justice A.K. Sikri, Acting Chief Justice and other Hon’ble Judges of High Court of Delhi and Judges of Subordinate Judiciary and Delhi Family Courts participated in the celebrations.  Children interacted with the Hon’ble Judges

• NALSA in association with Nagaland State Legal Services Authority organised a seminar on “Access to Justice in Nagaland – Role of Legal Services Authority” on 3-4 December, 2011 at Dimapur and Kohima. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Altamas Kabir, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA inaugurated the Seminar.

• NALSA organised a training programme from 17-19 December, 2011 at National Judicial Academy, Bhopal for the Member Secretaries of the State Legal Services Authorities.  The training was imparted to the Member Secretaries for performing the duties mandated by the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 in a proactive manner and to sensitise them to be sensitive to the problems of poor and marginalised sections of the society.