‘Mann Ka Milan’ brings together estranged couples

Ranchi: Punam Kumari and her husband Manoj Kumar Gupta were leading a happy life with their daughter till several misunderstandings turned their married life acerbic.
Kumari lodged an FIR with the women’s police station in 2018 against Gupta alleging domestic violence and dowry extortion. The couple, however, were convinced about the advantage of mediation during the “Mann ka Milan” programme held under the aegis of Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA). After the court ordered the resolution through alternative dispute redressal method, a series of meetings were held and the couple decided to reunite.
Similarly, a tribal couple — Bheem Baitha and Rinki Orain — who were living separately for several years were also reunited during the MKM fortnight.
The MKM held by district legal service authority (DLSA) Ranchi under the auspices JHALSA has brought together several estranged couples in Ranchi district. In addition, cases ranging from monetary disputes to grazing of cattle in others’ fields have also been resolved in the exercise.
DLSA secretary Rakesh Ranjan said, “We have solved 30 disputes during the MKM fortnight while 385 matters have been referred for mediation. Almost 2,000 people were given consultation and counselling services during the campaign.”
The DLSA stated that the MKM campaign consisted of awareness programmes on advantages of mediation, counselling and application for mediation in pending as well as pre-litigation cases.
The DLSA teams also visited the remote villages to educate the people about mediation process and persuade them to opt for the alternative dispute resolution method to resolve their quarrel.