Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) member secretary, Victo Sema, underscored the importance and the need for Legal Services Clinics (LSC) in villages in a state like Nagaland, where more than 70% of the population lives in rural areas having very little or no access to district courts which are located at district headquarters.
A press release by Peren District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) stated that the member secretary was speaking at a legal awareness program cum inauguration of Legal Services Clinic (LSC) on May 23 at Tening Village Council Hall, Peren.
While elaborating on the importance and need for setting up LSCs, Sema said at present Nagaland has 134 LSCs including the newly inaugurated Tening Village LSC. He added that the purpose of setting up the LSC was to make justice accessible to the people of Tening circle under Peren district and to protect their legal rights. He further urged and encouraged the villagers to licit use of the LSC and appreciated the Tening Village Council (TVC) for their contribution in setting up the LSC.
Delivering the keynote address, secretary Peren DLSA, Wonchibeni V Patton, spoke about the activities taken up by the DLSA and how one could avail free and competent legal services.
Peren DLSA panel lawyer, Kewithingwang, highlighted the various laws which safeguard the legal rights and interests of women, emphasising the maintenance law for women, while Italang Ramlia spoke on the various provisions under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012.
During the programme, TVC chairman, Pelengkeng, thanked Peren DLSA and NSLSA for their concern for a remote and isolated village and circle in Peren district.
The legal awareness programme was chaired by retainer lawyer Peren DLSA, Asungbe, invocation prayer was said by Tening Nam Baptist Church (TNBC) Pastor Rev Ramriwang, while TNBC secretary, Namruangwi, pronounced the benediction.