By OUR STAFF REPORTER
SIRMOUR, 1 Dec: National Legal Service Authority and State Legal Service Authority assigned the task to Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) to train 600 women in Legal Literacy in all the districts of Himachal Pradesh. Two of such Legal Awareness Training Programmes are being conducted simultaneously in District Sirmour from 30 November to 2 December at Bhangani Gram Panchayat Hall, Block Paonta Sahib, and Panchayat Samiti Sabhagar, Block Paonta Sahib, District Sirmour. Gram Pradhan Nindro Devi inaugurated the training programme at Bhangani Gram Panchayat Hall, while Block Development Officer Gaurav Dhiman inaugurated the camp at Panchayat Samiti Sabhagar. While addressing the participants they said that most of the active women of villages were aware of the schemes run by the government but they were not aware of their rights and the laws made for them, due to which they were unable to help other women around them even if they wanted to, so it was important to hold such legal literacy camps so that violence against women could be prevented. Para legal volunteer Sanjeev Kumar, DLSA, Sirmour, informed the participants about NLSA, free legal aid through DLSA, who all could access it, the work done by volunteers. He also shared various helpline numbers with them. Participant Babita Kaushal asked about a situation where an industry is polluting the water of the nearby area. Legal Trainer Chaitanya advised her to get in touch with the para legal volunteers and file a PIL under the environment law. Participant Seema Devi asked what would happen if a Hindu married a Muslim with Hindu rituals. She was informed by the trainer that such a marriage had to be registered under the Special Marriage Act and not the Hindu Marriage Act. Lectures were delivered on the 73rd & 74th Amendment Acts, Reproductive Rights of Women, PCPNDT Act, Right To Education Act, Right To Information Act, Maternity Benefits Act by Master Trainers Rekha Pundir and Josphin Singh, while Legal Trainers Akanksha Chauhan and Chaitanya delivered sessions on Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Special Marriage Act, Registration of Marriage Dowry Prohibition Act. Legal Trainer Mamta Thapa gave a lecture on Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace – Vishashka Guidelines. On the last day, there will be combined training at Panchayat Samiti Sabhagar, Block Paonta Sahib, in which the women participants of both the camps will be present. They will be addressed by Vasant Verma, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Nahan, as well as Padma Shri awardee Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson, RLEK.
