IMPHAL, May 26: A one day legal literacy and awareness program was held today at the Youth Development Organisation (YDO), Khundrakpam Awang Leikai in Imphal East District organized by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority in collaboration with the Human Rights Initiative, Manipur.
W Tonen Meitei, CJMI Member Secretary, Imphal East District Legal Services Authority; U Rajendro, president, YDO; and RK (0) Sakhi Leima, president, Nupi lup Voluntary Organisation, Khundrakpam Awang Leikai attended the function as chief guest, guest of honour and president respectively.
S Sanatampha, program co-ordinator, HRI spoke on the topic “Rights of the citizen regarding arrest, detention and interrogations.” She spoke on the need to demand arrest memo and seizure memo when a citizen is arrested and materials seized by a law agency. No woman or person under 18 years shall be called in a police station or army camp. She further added that any person who is arrested should be produced within 24 hrs before a magistrate but no woman shall be arrested or physically searched before sunrise and after sunset.
M Paikhomba, Advocate spoke on the topic of Right to Food and Woman Rights. He said that the benefits of Targeted Public Distribution System are not fully provided to the citizens of the state due to malpractices and intentional negligence of the concerned authority i.e. CAF&PD. He maintained that 35 kg of rice is entitled to BPL and YVA Families in every month at the rate of Rs, 6.201 per kg for BPL and Rs 3/- per kg for AAY ration card holders.
However, there is a question that who or why these entitlements are deprived and who violate the directives of the Supreme Court of India in this regard. He also said that woman rights is human rights and every woman has equal rights with men enshrined in the UN laws and Indian constitution and he also suggested to the participants to approach the courts when fundamental rights are deprived.
W Joykumar, executive director, HRI spoke about the concept and principles of RTI and objectives of MGNREGS. He cited how the labourers under MGNREGS can enjoy the wages of 100 days in a year with working or without working the job and these rights are entitled under MGNERGA. He further said that any documents under MGNREGA should be disclosed for maintaining transparency and accountability. If the authority has failed to show all these documents, the citizens have a basic fundamental right to access information under RTI Act, 2005 and nobody should not be prohibited of this rights.
W Tonen Meitei, CJM, Imphal East District has said that there is a body called as Manipur State Legal Services Authority which is providing free legal aid to the needy citizen and every aggrieved person who are women, children, ST/SC, disable persons or persons whose annual income is below Rs 50, 000 can avail this aid free in cases where he/she wants to file a case before a court or legal advices. There are four legal aid clinics in the State of Manipur i.e. Legal Aid Clinics at Uripok Cheirap court Complex; L.M. S. Law College, Malom and Law College Oinam. Further, he appealed the participants to approach these Legal aid Clinics when required. He also mentined that Meira Paibis should not commit any illegal activity such as setting ablaze the houses of an alleged accused of a crime.