When the organization first came into being, we accidentally were confronted with
the issues related to non-adivasi encroachment of adivasi land. We felt the vacuum
of a rights based legal perspective in the local context. The existing legal machinery
responds inadequately to the real needs of the adivasi community. Internally adivasi
societies have their customary law that is being overshadowed by the new political
governance systems. With regard to this the external legal system needs to be sensitized,
so that they may respect the local justice system in the adivasi context. A need
was felt to promote para-legals who could represent the legal needs of the community.
While we continue to take up legal cases on behalf of the adivasi communities, related
to land, other human rights abuses and atrocities especially on women. We are also
facilitating the building of capacities for adivasis to struggle for their rights
utilizing their legal entitlements. Our initial involvement has extended into a
programme that is now
a part of a national level para-legal institution, the Indian
Institute of Para Legal Studies (IIPLS).
LEGAL ADVOCACY
Legal Advocacy relates to cases ranging from land rights issues to maintenance
cases bail applications, primarily in situations where adivasis are threatened with
false justice due to the superior resources and influence of their opponents and
Public Interest Litigations. Such cases are mainly related to the following:
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1. |
Land Cases related to the Non-Adivasi illegal encroachment of Adivasi land. |
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2. |
Alternative Dispute Resolution of cases, which have been resolved outside the
legal justice or court system. |
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3. |
Extension of monthly maintenance to women through legal support, of deserted
adivasi women mainly by non-adivasi men
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4. |
Bail Applications, where adivasis have
been remanded in police custody bail applications are facilitated |
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5. |
Public Interest Litigations (PIL); Cases filed in the general in agency areas
pertaining to adivasi issues. |
EMPOWERING ADIVASI COMMUNITIES
Capacity Building
This relates to the ways and means by which adivasis are oriented and trained in
legal aspects. They include
1. Legal Awareness Camps are conducted
in villages to inculcate a basic understanding of accessing justice through the
legal systems. Legal Education programmes catered more
to the youth. They largely focus on the understanding of the right to self-governance,
land rights and other related legal issues. They suggest ways to address local issues
and measures through which the community is involved to resolve them.
2. Legal Advisory Camps are periodically
held mainly on weekly market days in nodal areas, where legal cases are identified,
legal advice as well as suggestions are offered, particularly in drafting petitions
or representations in various administrative and legal issues. In addition sensitisation
programmes on ‘Agency Laws’ are also undertaken periodically for officials such
as the Special Deputy Collectors/Revenue Divisional Officers, Tahsildars, Deputy
Tahsildars working in the scheduled areas of Andhra Pradesh. This has created a
positive impact on the style and functioning of government officials in dealing
with land issues
3. Paralegal Training programmes are predominantly long
term and short-term training processes for selected adivasi youth so that they may
be able to play the role of paralegals in various contexts. In this region the focus
has been mainly on land rights.
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