Malankara Archdiocese launches legal education for activists

Leaders of voluntary associations in the Trivandrum Syro Malankara archdiocese can now fight social exploitation with the help of free legal training provided by a Church social service society.

The Malankara social service society (MSS) has opened a legal aid center for voluntary organizations in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala state, 2,780 kilometers south of New Delhi.

MSS director Father Thomas Varghese Vattaparambil says the training course aims to advance the knowledge of the volunteer participants about citizen´s fundamental rights and duties.

The volunteers will help people out of the exploitation they suffer because of ignorance of the law, he said. Though Kerala is the most literate Indian state, its people are generally ignorant of laws, and several social welfare schemes go unutilized because of this, the MSS director said.

The course has become necessary because often “the same agencies entrusted to protect our rights are denying them,” Father Vattaparambil added.

The MSS course normally runs 30 days but can be divided into four, one-week sessions with breaks. Leading lawyers and senior government officials lead the training classes teaching basic aspects of civil rights and duties.

The first session began Feb. 22 with 36 trainees, including 28 women, all under 35 years old.

“The study of law is really enriching us,” said Vincent Ambilikkonam, 28, a participant. Learning that police have to provide a copy of the legal document `First Information Report´ to the accused was a revelation to me,” he said. Seldom do the police reveal that the accused also has rights, he added.

Anitha Aranad, 22, described as “heartening information” the provision that only a woman police officer can arrest or question a woman and that she cannot be kept in the police station after 5 p.m.

Selvy Panchimood said she better understands the use of the family courts to get justice for women now, and Chacko Thottappalyl said he was enlightened by the “immense possibilities for accident compensation.”

“We have come to know of several pension and welfare schemes that go unexploited,” said Vimala Nallimmood, a legal worker.

A participant said she is now determined to complain to the government consumer protection cell if she purchases poor quality products.

“This course will be a landmark in the scheme of development envisaged by the diocese,” said Manivarnan Mulloor, a Hindu participant.

Source: UCA News