Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, Sanjib Banerjee has stated that despite 76 years of development and progress, India still is unable to eradicate poor health and education and disparity between the urban rich and the rural poor.
He was speaking at the a mega camp cum awareness programme on National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) schemes and government welfare schemes held at Nolikata Higher Secondary School in Ranikor today.
Banerjee said that though the government has implemented many programmes for the benefit of all citizens, but people were not made aware as most of the programmes remain implemented and the money which was allotted is reverted back to the centre at the end of the financial year.
He advised students to take advantage of such programmes and urged teachers to disseminate what they learnt in clusters at the villages and localities particularly education and health care programmes so that many people are made aware of it.
The Chief Justice spoke about NALSA constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 with a view to make people aware of their rights and in providing free legal services to the weaker sections of the society. He said this is to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen.
He further encouraged people to avail all the services and advised women not to take mental, physical abuse without complaining. He urged youngsters to stay away from bad practices and not to fall prey to drugs.
The programme was jointly organised by the District Legal Services Authority, Mawkyrwat in collaboration with the district administration, office of Sub Divisional Officer and various government departments.
Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said that NALSA along with other legal services institutions undertakes various awareness activities in order to make people aware of their rights and about the role, activities and functioning of the legal services institutions.
He also informed that the government has implemented schemes like MGNREGS, PMJAY, National Rural Livelihood Mission in order to eradicate poverty.