Valedictory function of Para Legal Training

65 young adivasi women (28) and men (37) were dancing to the tune of their traditional drum and eagerly waiting to welcome the Chief Guest. It was the occasion of the Valedictory function of their Para Legal Training on 13th May 2011. At 6.00 PM, Mr. Tusharbahi Chaudhary, the State Minister of Road and Transport, Union of India, arrived along with Mr. Mavjibhai Chaudhary, the District Panchayat President of Tapi District and Ushaben Gamit, the Taluka Panchayat President of Songadh Taluka. They were welcomed in their traditional along with the slogan “Jai Adivasi, Jago Adivasi”.

After welcoming the guests, all stood up to sing the Adivasi Gaurav geet(the pride song of Adivasis) after which all stretched out their right hand to take the pledge to work for the development of community. Then the trainees introduced themselves. While they were introducing themselves, the Guests were watching them with great interest. After this they sang an awareness song (Bhaiyo baheno hakko mate ladiye). Then some of the trainees shared their experiences on (1) what they learnt during the training, (2) the good and bad experiences they had during their field experiences, and (3) how they would like to use this training in the future. All of them expressed their gratitude to SHAKTI and its supporters for enabling them to speak and to see the reality with ‘rights approach’.

Then the Guests distributed the certificates to the Para Legals. Along with the certificates they were also given a shawl and two Law books which could help them in their future. Ushaben told them, “She was able to reach this state in life because of the trainings of SHAKTI”. Mavjibhai told them to go around and to look at realities critically and to decide for themselves how they should work towards the development of the adivasi community. Tusharbhai, the Chief Guest congratulated them all for going through such a legal training that is so practical to life. He wished that when he was young, he had a chance like this. He added, “What you know even many elected members may not know. Today such trainings are not available for free. You are lucky”. After the vote of thanks, all stood up for the National Anthem. Arjunbhai Vasava and Jashuben Gamit conducted the programme.

On 20th January 2011, a new Para Legal Training was started. The participants were from Dahrampur, Vansda, Mandvi, Mangrol, Umarpada, Nizar, Uchchhal, Songadh and Vyara talukas of Valsad, Navsari, Surat and Tapi districts. This training was specially designed to cover some pertinent laws like RTF, RTI, MNREGA, PESA, FRA, Constitutional and Human Rights, Land Laws related to Adivasis, Maintenance Act, Atrocity Act, Consumer Protection Act and different welfare schemes of both State and Central Governments. They were also helped to develop the skills for public speaking, writing applications and complaints, press notes and reports along with some practical things like how to represent their matter to the elected members and the officials and how to conduct a meeting, how to conduct a programme etc. They had every month 3 days input sessions at SHAKTI-LAHRC, Songadh and field work in their respective areas. They were given concrete home works to guide their field work. They were followed up by the staff of SHAKTI-LAHRC. The resource persons were from different fields, Government departments and the training team of SHAKTI-LAHRC.

News And Photos
Fr. Stany Jeba SJ
Songhad
SHAKTI-LAHRC