SUKKUR: Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO) organised a session on Monday on the concept of free legal aid for vulnerable communities.
The session brought together lawyers, civil society organisations, line departments and community representatives. Event was attended by Additional Commissioner Yousuf Shaikh.
MRDO CEO Ghulam Sughra said, “MRDO have establishment a resource centre in district Jacobabad, for the vulnerable and poor women and men who are facing difficulties to reach the respective courts due to unavailability of funds and resources and have no approach to advocates for getting their rights properly through the judicial system.” So far the MRDO have reached about a large number of people through different methods, however and importantly registered 105 cases in courts, added Sughra.
Gul Buledi, program coordinator MRDO said, “The primary objective of this project is to work towards bridging the gap between supply and demand of quality, effective and inexpensive legal services and representation to serve the interests of the people, particularly dis-empowered and marginalized groups.
He also gave an overview of the types of queries received by the MRDO, cases include issues relating to availability, access and protection of resources such as water, electricity, education; issues relating to state processes and procedures such as getting NICs, registering FIRs, complaints about maladministration etc.; and calls about violence and discrimination, particularly against women. He also highlighted the need for creation of linkages with other stakeholders, including the media for better facilitation and support and resolution of the problems faced by the people.
Moreover, this session was organized to create awareness about the free legal aid services provided by MRDO, with a special focus on under-privileged and marginalized groups. The objective of this session was to inform the media and relevant stakeholders about the Free Legal Call Centre, how to access it, the services provided and its performance to date.
Published in Daily Times, September 27th 2017.
