A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE), Government of India, and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on 30th September, 2024 in New Delhi to improve public awareness about various Acts, Rules and Schemes of the Department, stated the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, PIB.
Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India & Executive Chairman of NALSA took part as witnesses to the signing. The MoU is aimed to support the marginalised and vulnerable sections of society including information of welfare programmes available to them. The awareness programme will range from Panchayat to State level.
According to the Ministry, NALSA and DoSJE will conduct a series of campaigns, seminars, and events to increase the reach and impact of social welfare schemes for vulnerable communities across India. SARTHIE 1.0, an initiative to empower disadvantaged communities was also launched at the event which includes groups like Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Senior Citizens, Transgender Persons, Victims of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, persons engaged in the act of Begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes, and more. SARTHIE 1.0 is an initiative which aims to promote equality by removing poverty and promoting social protection policies. The collaboration will aim to ‘bridge the awareness gap and provide legal assistance to ensure the effective implementation of social welfare programmes,’ stated the Ministry.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment along with NALSA will aim to ensure outreach of awareness to grassroot level. Under this partnership, State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), will organize awareness camps across the country through the para-legal volunteers and panel lawyers. The camps will focus on ensuring awareness of the five important Acts being implemented by the Department:
- Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
- Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007
- The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019
- Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
