CHANDIGARH—The District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Chandigarh, has added another feather in its cap when Naya Seva Kendra—one-stop solution center for female prisoners is inaugurated by Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge Punjab and Haryana High Court-cum-Executive Chairman, SLSA, Chandigarh in the female barrack of Model Jail, Chandigarh, on Tuesday and the Centre started working from Wednesday. The objective of the Centre is to enhance legal services to women inmates and their children who are facing jail terms or trials in various crimes.
Other presents on the occasion were Vijay Singh, District and Sessions Judge, Chandigarh, Mahavir Singh, Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh Ombir Singh IPS, IG Prisons, Chandigarh,Virat, HCS, Joint IG-cum-Superintendent Jail and Ashok Kr. Mann, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, UT, Chandigarh.
Speaking on the occasion Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge said that “This center is the first of its kind and only integrated center in the country that is bringing together five different departments to serve the Female Prisoners and their Children. He further said that he is hopeful that these convergent efforts would go a long way in achieving the objective of “Access to Justice” as is the motto of Legal Services Authority. This center will not only look after the needs of the prisoners while in Jail, but efforts will be made to link them to suitable rehabilitation services upon release.
Another facility that was visited today by Justice Jaswant Singh was a “Library cum Reading Room”. During the campaign, some female prisoners had expressed their need for a Library cum reading room. Speaking during the occasion, Sh Ombir Singh informed that when the matter of the library was brought to the attention of Justice Jaswant Singh, he had expressed his desire to take up the issue with the Prison Authorities urgently. The matter was discussed it was felt that the Library cum reading room be also set up for the female prisoners.
Based on the needs expressed during the campaign, the matter had been placed before Justice Jaswant Singh, he has been pleased to start a “Nyay Seva Kendra – One Stop Solution Centre for Female Prisoners” to be set up in the women’s barracks that will be a multi-service center that will be run by inputs from various departments. The center will be run from Monday to Friday between 09.00 am and 12 noon
The Nyay Seva Kendra, will be managed by different departments on different days of the week providing services to the Female Children and their children as per the schedule
| Monday | Legal Aid Clinic run in association with District Legal Services Authority, UT Chandigarh |
| Tuesday | Counseling services in association with Women Helpline, Chandigarh Child and Women Development Corporation |
| Wednesday | Supplementary Educational Program in association with Education Department |
| Thursday | Child Protection Services, District Child Protection Unit, under the office of Deputy Commissioner, UT Chandigarh |
| Friday | Community Linkages program to be run by District Level Center for Women (under Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme), Social Welfare Department |
All the Departments have been requested to kindly depute a senior female staff member to attend the Nyay Seva Kendra and assist the female prisoners and their accompanying children. It has also requested to share pamphlets, posters and other material that may be displayed in the center to make the women aware.
This is the first center of its kind in the country that will be run in a convergent manner
Chandigarh will showcase this model at a National Level through National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi.
By YS.Rana: Principal Correspondent