The land of Letters, Lakes and Latex is all set to add one more ‘L’ to its cap: Legal Literacy.
Inspired by TELIMC, the legal literacy initiative conceived and implemented successfully by Changanassery Thaluk Legal Service Committee, the District Legal Services Authority has conceived a project to cover the entire district. Named ‘Love Kottayam,’ acronym for Legal Orientation Vision for Exemplary Kottayam, the project hopes to enlighten the people about their legal rights and duties.
The plan is to declare the district total legal literate by August 15.
The objectives of the project are: Dissemination of basic and primary level knowledge of legal system, legal process, courts and administration of justice; development of a new legal awareness of basic rights and duties with people’s participation; securing justice as envisaged under Article 39 A of the Constitution; social and legal empowerment of the community reaffirming its commitment to the poor, marginalised, downtrodden and weaker sections of society.
Partner agencies
To take the project to the grass roots level, it has been decided to partner with a host of agencies right from the local self-government institutions, bar associations and police, civil society organisations, NGOs, agro groups, students, parent teacher associations, residents associations, etc. The district-level orientation committee, district monitoring committee, the taluk monitoring committee, the grama and municipal implementation committee, the ward implementation committee and the primary level implementation group will be formed to implement the project. Legal Literacy Clubs will be formed at the school and college campuses.
According to D. Harikumar Nampoothiri, the formation of taluk-level committees is over and that of the lower-level bodies is nearing competition.
District Legal Services Authority embarks on ‘Love Kottayam’ to declare the district total legal literate by August 15
