On paper the work of this volunteer from Medak district of Telangana State may look pretty lacklustre. But the passion with which Fareeda went about her job counselling people earned her the recognition of Best Para Legal Volunteer (PLV) of South India, an award that she received from the hands of none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting in New Delhi on Monday, marking the National Legal Services Day.
Ms. Fareeda has for years been putting her best efforts to spread awareness among people about the importance of adult education, apart from helping settle matrimonial matters, land and other property disputes and the like. Her good work included counselling two minor girls who were rape victims.
This PLV told family members about the financial aid they would get from Government through the Women Development & Child Welfare department.
She took upon herself the job of contacting the police, village elders and the Government departments concerned, ensuring that the victims got compensation that was transferred to a fixed deposit in bank till they attained the age of a major.
In another instance, her counselling of a farmer by name M. Sangameshwar made him give up the idea of taking the extreme step of committing suicide due to financial problems.
On a private loan of Rs. 2.3 lakh he regularly repaid upto a whopping Rs. 6 lakh, but was shattered when the money lender demanded payment of the principle loan of Rs. 2.3 lakh, stating that the Rs. 6 lakh was only the interest.
Ms. Fareeda counselled the petitioner and settled the matter with the money lender, making him give back Rs. 1 lakh to the petitioner.
That was not all and in another instance, she helped two more minors - H. Kaveri and H. Shivakumar, get their share of the family property and a monthly maintenance from their father after the death of their mother. In yet another case, she counselled one Syed Ali who had virtually abandoned his first wife and children and saw to it that they were paid monthly maintenance.
Apart from the presence of the Prime Minister Mr. Modi and Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, mong those present were Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Hyderabad, Justice Dilip B. Bhosale, Executive Chairman, Telangana State Legal Services Authority Justice R. Subhash Reddy, Supreme Court Judge, Justice T.S. Thakur and Executive Chairman, National Legal Services Authority, Justice Anil R. Dave.
