Odisha State Legal Services Authority
Justice Arindam Sinha, Judge, High Court of Orissa is the Executive Chairman of Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) since 10th July, 2024. Prior to Justice Arindam Sinha, Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Judge, High Court of Orissa was the Executive Chairman, OSLSA. Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Judge, High Court of Orissa is the Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee since 21st October, 2024. Prior to Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Justice Arindam Sinha, Judge, High Court of Orissa and Justice Debabrata Dash, Judge, High Court of Orissa were the Chairman, High Court Legal Services Committee.
Access to justice for all is not just a constitutional goal but it is the driving force behind all the legal services institutions in India. With the passage of time, dynamic roles and responsibilities have been assigned to legal services institutions and OSLSA and its field units are not behind in discharging its pious obligation.
The prime objective of OSLSA is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society; and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disability. OSLSA periodically organises Lok Adalats to facilitate expeditious disposal of cases. OSLSA is functioning through its state-wide network of legal services institutions in all the 30 Districts and 114 Taluks of the State.
- Lok Adalat
National Lok Adalat
As per the National Lok Adalat Schedule for the year 2024 received from National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, 04 National Lok Adalats were organized on 09.03.2024/17.03.2024, 11.05.2024, 14.09.2024 and 14.12.2024 in the High Court of Orissa and in the District & other Subordinate Courts including Debts Recovery Tribunal, other Tribunals/Forums during the period from 01.01.2024 to 31.12.2024. As many as 2646 cases including motor accident claim appeals, service matters, N.I. Act U/s.138 matters, land acquisition appeals, electricity matters, criminal compoundable matters, matrimonial matters and other matters were placed in the High Court of Orissa. 466 cases involving compensation in motor accident claim appeals of Rs. 34,13,56,544/- have been settled.
Similarly, in the District and other Subordinate Courts including other Tribunals/Forums, as many as 1,66,546 cases including criminal compoundable, N.I. Act cases, money recovery, motor accident claims, labour, civil, matrimonial, consumer, Debts Recovery Tribunals cases, and other criminal cases were placed in the aforesaid Lok Adalat. 60,787 cases involving realization of fines in criminal compoundable cases, money recovery cases, MAC Cases, labour, Civil, Debts Recovery Tribunal cases, matrimonial and award of compensation etc. of Rs. 423,49,68,300/-were settled. Further, 22677 no. of pre-litigation disputes involving Rs.68,46,26,056/-have been settled.
- Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS)
Total 22 Permanent Lok Adalats (PLAs) (Public Utility Services) established by this Authority are functioning. During the year, 2024, 2205 nos. of pre-litigation disputes were registered in those PLAs out of which 1839 disputes have been settled.
- Legal Aid
During the aforesaid period, 5189 applications seeking legal aid were received and out of the same, 4804 were disposed of by the State Authority, High Court Legal Services Committee and other field units. In 2713 matters, Panel Advocates were engaged and in 2091 applications, other services which include legal assistance were provided to the beneficiaries for availing the benefits of Centre/State Govt. Schemes.
- Legal Aid Defense Counsel System
In order to provide effective, competent and quality legal services to the disadvantaged and unprivileged sections of the society in court-based criminal matters vis-a-vis to Public Defender System, steps have been taken by OSLSA to implement Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in all 30 DLSAs of the State.
During the 2nd Phase, steps were taken by OSLSA to establish Legal Aid Defense Counsel System Offices in the remaining 15 districts of our State. In this regard, necessary permission has also been obtained from the High Court of Orissa for establishment of LADCS Offices in the District Court Buildings at Bhadrak, Boudh, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Nabarangpur as there are no ADR Buildings available. On 22nd February, 2024, the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court and Patron-in-Chief of OSLSA had inaugurated LADCS Offices in 10 districts of our State i.e. Bargarh, Bhadrak, Boudh, Gajapati, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Kendrapara, Nabarangpur, Puri & Sonepur.
So far as in remaining 5 districts i.e. Deogarh, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Nayagarh and Rayagada, LADCS Offices are not functional due to non-availability of office spaces. Now, NALSA has intimated vide e-mail dated 16.05.2024 to stop incremental expansion of LADCS Offices during the current financial year 2024-25 with immediate effect.
Total 17 Nos. of Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel, 37 Nos. of Deputy Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel and 40 Nos. of Assistance Legal Aid Defense Counsel have been appointed in the aforementioned LADCS. During the aforesaid period, the following no. of cases received and disposed of in 25 LADCS.
- ADR Centres and Mediation
ADR Centres are functioning in 16 districts. In the districts where ADR Centres have not been established, the District Mediation Centres are taking up mediation and other ADR activities.
As on 31.12.2023, 301 cases were pending before the different Mediation Centres for mediation. During the year, 2024, 1863 cases were received and 150 cases were settled through successful mediation. In 1405 cases, mediation failed and in 225 cases, mediation could not commence. Till 31.12.2024, 384 cases are pending for mediation.
- Awareness and Outreach Programme
During the year, 2024, 2865 Legal Literacy/Awareness Camps were organized by the DLSAs and TLSCs through physical and virtual mode across the State on different legal themes, welfare schemes and on the occasion of observance of different Days such as “International Women’s Day” on 8th March, 2024, “International Labour Day” on 1st May, 2024, “World Environment Day” on 5th June, 2024, “World Day against Child Labour” on 12th June, 2024,“International day for the Older Person” on 1st October,2024, “National Legal Services Day” on 9th November 2024, “Children’s day” on 14th November 2024,“Constitution day” on 26th November 2024,“International Day for Person with Disabilities” on 3rd December,2024, and “Human Rights Day” on 10th December 2024, as per the Calendar of Activities-2024 of OSLSA. Total 2,49,078 people had participated in these awareness programmes.
- Pan-India Campaign-‘Restoring the Youth Pan-India Campaign for identifying juveniles in prisons and rendering legal assistance-2024’
As per the instruction of National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi communicated under e-mail Dated 11.01.2024, a Pan-India Campaign-‘Restoring the Youth Pan-India Campaign for identifying juveniles in prisons and rendering legal assistance-2024’ has been conducted by this Authority in the State w.e.f.25.01.2024 involving Secretaries of 30 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), Jail Visiting Lawyers and Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs).
The Campaign aimed at identifying persons currently in prison who were potentially minors at the time of offence and assisting them in filing necessary applications for claim of juvenility along with the supporting documents. In order to carry out the aforesaid Pan-India Campaign, orientation programmes as well as awareness programmes on the Juvenile Justice law for prisoners in the jails were organised by the DLSAs.
During the aforesaid Campaign from 24.01.2024 to 27.02.2024, 818 no. of persons (Under trials or Convicts) were identified and out of the same, 383 no. of applications were received and out of the same, 242 no. of applications were disposed of which includes release of 242 no. of persons on bail (including transfer of 12 no. of applications to Child Care Institutions (CCIs).
- Victim Compensation Scheme
During the year, 2024, 1993 no. of applications under the Victim Compensation Scheme were received by DLSAs throughout the State. 1822 (including previous pending applications) applications were decided and Rs. 33,57,36,647/- was disbursed towards compensation to the beneficiaries by the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs).
- Training Programmes for Panel Lawyers and Para-legal Volunteers (PLVs)
The training module devised by NALSA was followed for training of panel lawyers. During the year, 2024, 30 nos. of training programmes for panel lawyers were organized by the field units, wherein, 836 Panel Lawyers were given training. Similarly, 63 nos. of induction/refresher training programmes were also organized for PLVs and total 1485 PLVs were imparted training.
- Student Legal Literacy Club
Following the guidelines issued by NALSA, total 746 no. of Student Legal Literacy Clubs have already been established in the State, each consisting not more than 25 student members. There is one Teacher-in-Charge being nominated by the Head Master/Principal of the concerned school for each club. The Club functions under the supervision of the Secretary, DLSA and District Education Officer of the concerned district. The student members of the Student Legal Literacy Clubs are being involved in the legal literacy/awareness camps as and when organized by the DLSAs/TLSCs as well as in the outreach campaign launched by NALSA.
- Mobile Legal Services Van :
To create awareness about legal rights among general public of far-flung areas of the State, OSLSA has deployed Mobile Legal Services Van with the prime objective of propagation of the legal aid schemes, spreading awareness through public interaction in order to make people aware of their legal rights, and the role, activities and functioning of legal services institutions including various legal services schemes formulated by NALSA as well as the various social welfare schemes of both Central & State Government. DLSAs have been deputing Panel Lawyer, PLVs during the visit of Mobile Legal Services Van with an aim to create awareness and to provide instant legal aid & assistance to general public and also to receive legal aid applications from general public. In the Mobile Legal Services Van, awareness through audio visual display system on NALSA theme song, Schemes of NALSA, various provisions of Law and various social welfare schemes of both Central & State Govt. were being displayed during its visits.
During the year, 2024, Mobile Legal Services Van was deployed at Angul, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Phulbani, Puri, Nayagarh, and Sundargarh Districts of Odisha for creating legal awareness among the general Public of far-flung areas.
- Visits of Jails and CCI by DLSAs
The DLSA Secretaries are regularly visiting jails in every month in order to ascertain the living conditions of UTPs. They are also paying un-scheduled visits to the jails and detecting irregularities in basic facilities provided in jails and they are making necessary intimation to the concerned jail authority for its rectification. One of the major objects of jail visit is also to find out the UTPs who are languishing in jail custody due to non-furnishing of bail bond. In these circumstances, DLSAs are engaging panel lawyers for interaction with those UTPs and also taking necessary steps towards filing of applications for modification of their bail conditions before the concerned Court and in obtaining socio-economic report for those UTPs. In those circumstances if it is found that the concerned UTP has engaged private lawyer, personal interactions are being done by Secretary, DLSA and that concerned private lawyer for early release of UTP.
Similarly, DLSAs are visiting Child Care Institutions in order to ascertain the basic needs and requirements of a child and they are also ensuring implementation of all necessary guidelines which are framed for protection of interest of a child residing in a child care institution
- Nyaya Sanjog
A State level Legal Assistance Establishment namely, “Nyaya Sanjog” is functioning in the office of the OSLSA since 21st June, 2017 with the aim and objective of providing multiple legal services under one roof. There is a dedicated Help Line number-9438578586/1516.
During the year, 2024, 1847 persons approached (In person-281 and Over phone-1566) the Legal Assistance Establishment (Nyaya Sanjog) and they were provided with the required legal aid, assistance and consultation.
- Front Office
144 Front Offices are functioning under the DLSAs and TLSCs. During the year, 2024, 3857 persons approached the Front Offices and 3179 persons were provided assistance in the aforesaid Front Offices.
- Jail Legal Services Clinics and Village Legal Aid Care and Support Centres
86 Jail Legal Services Clinics are functioning in the DLSAs and TLSCs. During the year, 2024, 18,532 inmates approached the Jail Legal Services Clinics. Out of them, 9326 inmates were provided with assistance. Similarly, 132 nos. of Village Legal Aid Care & Support Centres are functioning under the DLSAs and TLSCs. During the year, 2024, 8029 persons approached those Centres and 4593 persons were provided assistance in the Centres.
- Other activities
- Observance of ‘Van Mahotsav Week’ (Plantation drive)
In order to instill sense of awareness on “Protection of Environment”, the Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) in association with Forest and Environment Department, Govt. of Odisha, a State-wide Plantation Drive was organized in the 1st week of July, 2024 on the occasion of observance of “Van Mahotsav Week” by involving 30 District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), 114 Taluk Legal Services Committees (TLSCs), Panel Lawyers, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) along with the Schools having Student Legal Literacy Clubs (SLLCs) run in the State of Odisha. The objective of the plantation programme was to generate awareness amongst the general public as well as the School students regarding protection of environment.
The Odisha State Legal Services Authority organized a Plantation Programme in the premises of “Record Room Digitization Centre” (RRDC), High Court of Orissa, Cuttack and in the premises of “Aain Seva Bhawan”, Cuttack on 04.07.2024, on the occasion of observance of “Van Mahotsav Week”. Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa & Patron-in-Chief, OSLSA, Dr. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, Former Judge, High Court of Orissa & the then Executive Chairman, OSLSA and other Judges of High Court of Orissa graced the aforesaid plantation programme and planted saplings.
- VISIT OF HON’BLE SHRI JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA, JUDGE, SUPREME COURT OF INDIA AND EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, NALSA
Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA had visited different legal services institutions in the districts of Khurda and Puri and presided over Odisha Conference of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) held at Cuttack, Odisha from 16.08.2024 to 18.08.2024.
Visit to Special Jail, Bhubaneswar
On 16.08.2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India-cum-Executive Chairman, NALSA visited the Special Jail, Bhubaneswar.
During visit, he inaugurated a vocational training programme on electronics and distributed certificates to the jail inmates who have passed the courses of Journalism and Mass Communication, Higher Secondary Education. He also delivered a speech on the importance of vocational training and its significance and encouraged the prisoners. He emphasized that the prisons should not be called as “Jails” rather they should be called as “Correctional Centres”.
He interacted with the prisoners and ascertained the success rate of legal aid and the prisoners were also apprised that not only legal aid deals with legal needs or representation of prisoners, but also, legal aid is there for them and for their family’s social needs.
He encouraged the prisoners to obtain a second opinion from the Legal Aid Defense Counsel about the tits and bits of their cases. He also emphasized to organize awareness programmes in jails on compounding cases, stages of trial, provision of bail, plea bargaining, premature release, etc.
He visited the kitchen in order to ascertain its cleanliness and also inspected the food which had been prepared and was ready to be served to the prisoners. He inaugurated the Vocational Training programme for Data Entry Operator and interacted with the prisoners.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna also visited the community radio centre of the jail meant for the jail inmates only. During such visit, he interacted with one UTP Radio Jockey, who requested him for a small talk-show and he was pleased to join. During the talk show, he apprised the prisoners about their rights, rights to be released on bail. He also apprised the prisoners that Legal Aid Counsels are not Government Counsels. Legal Aid Counsels are counsels at par with counsels who are defending the accused in the Courts. Thereafter, Justice Sanjiv Khanna proceeded to visit the Hospital and inaugurated the Health Camp and he interacted with the Jail Medical Officers and enquired about the footfall of the patients to the Hospital. He proceeded to the Jail Legal Aid Clinic and interacted with the Legal Aid Defense Counsel. He visited the female ward and inaugurated the Sewing Machine Operator programme and interacted with the female prisoners.
Visit to LADCS Office of DLSA, Khurdha
Justice Sanjiv Khanna reached at the Office of DLSA, Bhubaneswar and proceeded to the conference hall of DLSA for interaction with the Legal Aid Defense Counsels, Panel Lawyers and Para Legal Volunteers.
He emphasized to impart training to PLVs on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and on different labour laws and other statutes which will be instrumental for the PLVs to serve the cause of people coming from different backgrounds.
He also emphasized on ADR mechanism, specifically on mediation and encouraged Panel Lawyers and PLVs to make people aware about the cost effectiveness and other benefits of mediation.
He also suggested the PLVs and Panel Lawyers to spread awareness on NALSA’s National Helpline Number 15100 among people and to encourage them for its optimum use.
DLSA, Khurda at Bhubaneswar.
Odisha Conference of District Legal Services Authorities under the aegis of NALSA
On 17th August, 2024, the Odisha Conference of District Legal Services Authorities under the aegis of NALSA was held at Odisha Judicial Academy, Cuttack. The said conference was presided by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA in the presence of Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa and Patron-in-Chief, OSLSA , Justice Arindam Sinha, Judge, High Court of Orissa and Executive Chairman, OSLSA and Judges of High Court of Orissa. The District Judges-cum-Chairpersons and the Secretaries of 30 DLSAs of Odisha and PLVs from different districts participated in this Conference.
The Conference started with inaugural session in which Justice Arindam Sinha, Judge, High Court of Orissa and Executive Chairman, OSLSA delivered welcome address. Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa and Patron-in-Chief, OSLSA delivered his address and shared his experience in legal services institution and encouraged the participants and PLVs. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA delivered his inaugural address by Power Point presentation and highlighted different aspects of legal services institutions like legal aid, what is justice and access to justice, legal aid at the stage of arrest, legal aid to prisoners specifically to UTPs and discussed the data relating to disposal of bail applications in India and in State of Odisha.
In the interactive session, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge, Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman, NALSA interacted with Secretaries of different DLSAs like Angul, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj on topics like legal aid at the stage of pre-arrest, arrest and remand stage, performance of LADCS, strength of PLVs in their districts and their utilization in legal services, meeting of DLSAs. He also highlighted training of PLVs on different labour laws and Workman Compensation Act.
During the course of interaction, he suggested that telephone number of PLVs should be mentioned at each police station so that if anybody gets arrested, the PLVs can be informed and they can interact with the family members of the person arrested. He suggested display of NALSA Helpline No. “15100” in every police station of Odisha. He advised the PLVs to have the phone number of Secretary, DLSAs and to contact them in case of necessity and similarly advised Secretary, DLSAs to have regular interaction with PLVs and to arrange interaction of PLVs with Panel Lawyers and LADC Counsel.
He advised DLSAs to apprise and convince the parents of those children who are not letting their children to go to school about benefits of education for the betterment of future of their children.
He concluded by stating that access to justice is our objective. It is our duty to ensure that everybody has access to justice.
Visit to Village Legal Aid Clinic at Satyabadi Village, Puri
On 18th August, 2024, Justice Sanjiv Khanna visited Village Legal Care and Support Centre, Satyabadi in the District of Puri along with Member Secretary, OSLSA, District Judge-cum-Chairman, DLSA, Puri, Secretary, DLSA, Puri. A meeting was organized in the conference hall of Satyabadi Block office where villagers of Athaisa village participated. In the meeting, He interacted with the legal aid beneficiaries of Satyabadi block.
He also visited Village Legal Care and Support Centre and interacted with the Para Legal Volunteers and advised them to redress the grievances of the local people who are eligible to get free legal aid services and also visited nearby village namely Athaisa and interacted with the local people relating to their problems and advised them to contact the local Para Legal Volunteers whenever they needed legal aid.
- Interaction of Executive Chairman, OSLSA with Para Legal Volunteers/Adhikar Mitra, Legal Aid Defense Counsel/Nyaya Rakshak, Police Personnel, Panel Lawyers and other stake holders :
The Executive Chairman, OSLSA undertook an exercise to interact with the Para Legal Volunteers/Adhikar Mitra, Legal Aid Defense Counsel/Nyaya Rakshak, Police Personnel, Panel Lawyers and other stake holders. Such interaction had already been held in Sambalpur, Angul and Khurda comprising of Districts of Angul, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Deogarh, Khurda, Puri, Cuttack and Nayagarh and altogether 303 nos. of PLVs/ Adhikar Mitra, Police Personnel, Panel Lawyers, LADCs/Nyaya Rakshak and other stake holders etc. attended the interaction on the topic of “Para Legal Volunteers and their roles specifically at the stage of pre-arrest arrest and remand”.
- Observance of ‘World Mental Health Day’ by OSLSA
As per the Calendar with Common Minimum Programme-2024, OSLSA in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, Cuttack observed “World Health Mental Day” on 10.10.2024 in Psychiatric Ward of SCB Medical College & Hospital, Cuttack. On this occasion, fruits etc. were distributed to the indoor and outdoor patients of the said ward. The said event was graced by the Chief Justice, High Court of Orissa & Patron-in-Chief, OSLSA.
The Member-Secretary, OSLSA, District Judge-cum-Chairman, DLSA, Cuttack, Deputy Registrar (Protocol), High Court of Orissa, Registrar, Civil Courts, Secretary, DLSA, Cuttack, and Deputy Secretary & Assistant Secretary, OSLSA including Director and Doctors of Mental Health Institute of SCB Medical and Hospital, Cuttack were also present and extended cooperation for successful organisation of the aforesaid event.
- Awareness during Historic Baliyatra
In order to create awareness amongst the general public during the Baliyatra Festival-2024, a Legal Services Stall was set up by the Odisha State Legal Services Authority at High Court Pavilion from 16.11.2024 to 23.11.2024 on the occasion of Historic Baliyatra. In the said stall different sections representing different institutions of Legal Services like Front Office, Nyaya Sanjog, Mediation Centre were created and those were manned by Panel Lawyers, PLVs/Adhikara Mitras, Student Adhikara Mitra for providing instant legal services as well as awareness to the general public. The awareness materials like leaflets & pamphlets were also distributed among the visitors to sensitize them on various legal aid & services. A video on the rights of differently-abled persons was played with sign language.
A special focus had been given to spread awareness on NALSA Toll Free Helpline Number (15100) and LSMS portal by preparing a pocket calendar-2025 and one “Selfie stand” in which information on “15100”, LSMS portal and OSLSA’s Website and You Tube channel was depicted. Also, students from different schools visited the OSLSA stall during this period and they were enlightened on different legal services activities; specifically on mediation procedure. More than fifty thousand people had visited the stall.
- Observance of ‘Constitution Day’ by OSLSA, DLSAs and TLSCs of Odisha
On 26th November, 2024 Constitution Day had been observed by Legal Services Institutions of State of Odisha by organizing Talks/Conferences/ Seminars focusing on Citizen’s Fundamental Duties to create awareness about the same across the State.
- Success Stories
- An abandoned 22 days’ infant restored to her parents
The Secretary, DLSA, Khurda came to know from a newspaper published in the Times of India that an infant of 22 days had been abandoned by her parents. Pursuant to which, the DLSA, Khurda vide letter No. 5559/Dtd.29. 01.2024 sought for a status report of the infant from the Director, Capital Hospital as it had been published in the newspaper that the child was admitted in SNCU, Capital Hospital in a critical condition and instructed the Chairman, CWC to take necessary steps. The Secretary, DLSA immediately visited the hospital along with the DCPO, Khurda and found that the baby weighed only 860 gm. for which she had been admitted in SNCU being referred by Nayagarh, DHH. Immediately thereafter, the admission register was seen for finding the whereabouts of her parents. Thereafter, the S.P., Nayagarh was requested by the DLSA, Khurda to know the whereabouts of her parents and after her parents were traced out, the S.P. Nayagarh and CWC, Nayagarh interacted with the parents and finally her parents came to Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar to look after their baby girl. Due to the intervention of DLSA Khurda an infant was saved from being abandoned.
- Three Orphans Rehabilitated
It came to notice of the DLSA, Koraput-Jeypore through a Newspaper publication in the daily Newspaper “Sambad” dtd. 28.01.2024 titled (Andharare Tini Anatha Sishu (Three Orphans in Dark) that the children namely Kumari Ramita Saunta, aged about 13 years, Niranjan Saunta, aged about 09 years and Rahul Saunta aged about 6 years of Marchiguda village Pindapadar GP, under Dasmantapur Block, District-Koraput after back to back death of their parents were living with their grandmother at Marchiguda in distressed condition. The grandmother was facing many difficulties in taking care of the children. Accordingly, one trained PLV was deputed to look into the matter and ascertain the condition of the family. Accordingly, the PLV submitted the report to the Secretary, DLSA, Koraput about their miserable condition. Immediately, the Secretary, DLSA Koraput communicated the matter to the District Child Protection Officer, District Welfare Officer & BDO Dasmantpur for their rehabilitation. In response to that the District Child Protection Officer, Koraput vide letter no 214 Dtd. 02.03.2024 intimated that all three orphan children had already been produced before the CWC, Koraput and as per the direction of CWC, Koraput they were rehabilitated at Child Care Institution IDS, Dasmantpur, Koraput.
- Maternity Leave ensured to a contractual employee
The DLSA, Khurda was intimated by OSLSA to redress the grievance of the petitioner namely Smt. Arpita Bhuyan who had just delivered a baby and was on maternity leave. The lady was working as Management Expert-I, SBA Cell under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Bhubaneswar who was deprived of her maternity benefits on the ground that she was a contractual employee. On being harassed from pillar to post, she finally approached the DLSA, Khurda on 16.03.2024 seeking necessary legal assistance. Taking into consideration the grievance of Smt. Bhuyan, the Secretary, DLSA, Khurda made a request to the Commissioner, BMC, Bhubaneswar and the Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Government of Odisha to consider the case of the applicant Smt. Bhuyan. In response, BMC, Bhubaneswar submitted an action taken report to the DLSA, Khurda stating therein that 4 months of maternity benefits to the tune of Rs.1,87,000/- had been approved by the Board in favour of the applicant Smt. Bhuyan.
- Rehabilitation of children of UTPs
During the jail visit by the Secretary, DLSA, Koraput to Special Jail, Jeypore on 14.05.2024 that two female UTPs namely Smt. Bondai Khondha and Smt. Radama Harijan submitted before the Secretary, DLSA that as they were in jail custody, their children namely Sunam Khondha (13yrs), Nandini Khondha (7yrs.) and Amita Khondha (7yrs.) were leaving in a helpless and distressed condition at their village. There was no one at their home to look after their livelihood and education. Hence, they prayed for rehabilitation of their children and to provide educational facilities for the helpless children. Accordingly, the Secretary, DLSA, Koraput made a correspondence with the DCPO, Koraput and CWC, Koraput for taking appropriate steps for rescue, rehabilitation and education of the minor children. In response to the same, the children of the aforementioned UTPs were rescued by the team of CWC, Koraput and DCPO, Koraput and were produced before Chairman, DLSA, Koraput and later on they were rehabilitated at ASTHA, Children Home on 19.05.24 under the supervision of Secretary, DLSA, Koraput-Jeypore.
- Rescue and Rehabilitation of the Mentally ill
One applicant namely Tarabati Dila filed an application before DLSA, Jharsuguda & prayed for proper medical treatment and rehabilitation of her daughter namely Rita Dila as she was suffering from mental illness. Thereafter her application was forwarded to the District Social Security Officer, Jharsuguda requesting him to provide necessary medical treatment and rehabilitate the patient. Further, DLSA, Jharsuguda approached the People’s Forum NGO, Jharsuguda for her rehabilitation & treatment. The patient was rehabilitated at Mission Ashra, H. Katapali, Jharsuguda on 18.07.2024 and now, the patient is residing there with proper care and treatment.
- Providing benefits to the children of construction workers
As per the instruction of the Chairman, DLSA, Phulbani, the Secretary, DLSA, Phulbani had a visit to the construction site of New Civil Courts Building, Phulbani on 10.06.2024. During visit, it was found that five numbers of children namely Rama Hansda, Sai Hansda, Rohit Singh, Bina Soren, & Rina Soren were found residing with their parents, who worked as construction workers in the sites, devoid of all basic amenities available for children of their age like health, food, education, hygiene, drinking water. The children were residing in temporary cabin with their parents amidst dust, dirt affecting their overall development and depriving them of their basic rights. In this regard, the Secretary DLSA, Phulbani requested the DCPO, Phulbani to provide necessary benefits of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to the above-mentioned children as per law. On dtd.02.08.2024 the DCPO, Phulbani intimated that all five numbers of children had been enrolled in nearby Anganwadi Centre.
- Justice to a Distressed Family
As per the intimation of Smt. Snehalata Patel, Social Worker-cum- Member, DLSA, Sundargarh and Secretary, Astha Gruha, Sundargrh, two children namely Shiva Bag, aged about 10 years and Bishnu Bag, aged about 8 years S/o-Lt. Gurubari Munda and Ram Kumar Bagh of Village-IB Nagar, PS-Town, PS/Dist- Sundargarh, were staying in distressed condition. Both these boys had lost their mother in the year 2020. Their father, Ram Kumar Bag is a mentally ill person. The Grand Mother of the said two children is aged about more than 75 yrs and she was also mentally ill and was not able to take care of the two children. They had no financial means for their education, care, treatment, protection and nutrition etc. and also were not able to meet their daily house hold expenses for their survival. No abled persons/family members were there to take care of them. Accordingly, a letter of request was made to the Chairperson, CWC, Sundargarh at Rourkela for their rehabilitation, safety, security protection, nutrition, education, treatment, survival and for their up-liftment and the children have been rehabilitated in Adruta Children’s Home, Subalaya, Sundargarh.
- Children from red light area were facilitated for issuance of Aadhar cards
On the door-to-door campaign by DLSA Khurda, it was brought to light that around 44 number of children from redlight area and its peripheral slum areas were kept deprived of Aadhaar Card as because they did not have their birth certificates which ultimately kept them out of from their basic Right to Education. Hear-felling this, DLSA Khurda instructed the District Education Officer of Khurda to take immediate steps and efficacious steps for issuing them with Aadhaar Cards and on such intervention the children were enrolled to their classes and have been issued with Aadhaar Cards.
- Ensuring shelter to an elderly lady
On 14.08.2024, an elderly woman named Malati Pradhan from Puri, who had been kicked out of her house by her sons, was sitting at the Aadhar Kendra near the ADR building having found no other recourse. A PLV (Para-Legal Volunteer) named Rajani Panda noticed her and approached her to understand the situation. The woman broke down in tears and requested shelter. Subsequently, the PLV brought her to the office of the DLSA (District Legal Services Authority), Khurda where her son was contacted by telephone. However, her son bluntly refused to take her back. Acting promptly, the Secretary of DLSA, Khurda, contacted the District Social Security Officer (DSSO), Khurda, and arranged shelter for the elderly woman at an Old Age Home.
- Mediation as an instrument for bridging caste barrier and social ostracisation
A Pre-litigation Mediation Case was filed by Subhadra Sahu & Chinmaya Kumar Pradhan against the President & Secretary of Panchakusha Sundhi Samaj of Village-Balandapada, Block-Phiringia, PS-Gochhapada as the applicants were not permitted to enter into their village after they got married in different caste. The case was assigned to a trained mediator and after issuance of notice, the respondents appeared before the mediation centre, Phulbani. After conducting several sittings, both the parties arrived at a mutual agreement to allow the applicants to enter into their village and let them live peacefully without any caste restrictions with an undertaking from the respondents to not to interfere with the applicants’ peaceful married life in future on the basis of caste.
- Rehabilitation of a widow and her children
From the daily newspaper The Samaj dated 16.02.2024, it came to the notice of the DLSA, Ganjam, that a widow named Srimanti Dakua from Village Haladibada, under Ankuli G.P., Block Patrapur, District Ganjam, had sought assistance for the education and safety of her children under a government scheme.
In this connection, the DLSA, Ganjam, promptly informed the Chairman of the TLSC, Patrapur, the Block Development Officer, Patrapur, and the District Child Protection Officer, Ganjam, at Chatrapur to take necessary steps to provide assistance to the said widow under the government scheme to uphold social justice.
Following the intervention of the DLSA, Ganjam, and as directed by the Chairman of the TLSC, Patrapur, the Inspector-In-Charge (IIC) of the local police station immediately rescued the widow and her children and produced them before the Child Welfare Committee, Berhampur.
Subsequently, the widow and her children were shifted to the Swadhar Gruha at Berhampur. One child was placed in the Child Care Institution, Special Adoption Agency, Utkal Balashram, Gosaninuagaon, while the other four children were shifted to the Child Care Institution, Utkal Balashram, Gosaninuagaon.