Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid & services to prisoners

Imphal, 27th July 2021

Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid & services to prisoners

Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority organized an online legal awareness cum interactive programme for the inmates and officials of Manipur Central Jail, Imphal on 27th July 2021 from 1 pm to 2.30 pm. The programme was organized as a part of “Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid and services to prisoners” initiated by MASLSA.

Shri. Ojesh Mutum, Member Secretary, MASLSA chaired the said programme, along with Shri. A. Kunjakishore, Superintendent of Imphal Central Jail, Imphal and Shri. Sadananda Sorokhaibam, Deputy Member Secretary, MASLSA.

The program also focused on increasing communication between the Jail Legal Aid Clinics, officials of jails and the inmates, besides ensuring the rights of the inmates.

Key takeways of the discussion are:

o Online functioning of the Jail Legal Aid Clinic due to the COVID-19 pandemic
o Prompt update of the prisoners' data in the MASLSA's Prisoner Database Management Portal to ensure transparency in justice administration.
o Psychological and social assessment of the inmates
o Enhancing vocational courses for generating sustainable livelihood mechanisms
o Identifying and supporting vulnerable families of the inmates in accessing welfare schemes.

The programme was participated by a total of 23 participants including women jail inmates, officials and PLVs of legal aid clinic of Manipur Central Jail, Imphal.

Mention may be made that Covid-19 cases are surging across the country, and restrictions on movement have been placed at many places to contain the rapid surge. In the said scenario, Legal Services Authorities across the country have started appropriately responding to the legal needs of people by optimizing effective and innovative used of digital as well as electronic media and platform.

Campaign for enhancing effective legal aid & services to prisoners

(Sorokhaibam Sadananda) MJS
Deputy Member Secretary,
Manipur State Legal Services Authority
ADR Building, Lamphel Court Complex,
Lamphelpat, Imphal