Advocacy and Lobby

Legal Education is a movement that envisages that the poor have easy access to courts and other government agencies. It implies that the decisions rendered are fair and just taking account of the rights and disabilities of parties. The focus of legal aid is on distributive justice, effective implementation of welfare benefits and elimination of social structural discrimination against the poor.

Free Legal Aid Campaign: 

In collaboration with the District magistrate of Tirunelveli, TSSS launched a Free Legal Campaign in rural areas. Input on peace and harmony was the core theme of the campaign. The legal professionals and TSSS team emphasized the importance of amicable settlement of disputes in village structures. However, in case of complicated issues, the people were asked to approach free legal cell functioning in all district courts. Nearly 4000 people have been oriented on the legal rights and procedures for establishing their rights. The campaign was supported and facilitated by the District Judges, Advocates and members of free legal aid cells and TSSS Director and staff team. 

In addition, State Legal Advisory Day was observed by organizing a Mass rally at Kovilpatti on 14.11.2008. Handbills on legal education and procedures were issued to the public on the occasion. 

Actions for Domestic Violence against women

Women and children are often in great danger in the place where they should be safest: within their families. For many, ‘home’ is where they face a regime of terror and violence at the hands of somebody close to them – somebody they should be able to trust. Those victimized suffer physically and psychologically. 

Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women. Domestic violence is in most cases violence perpetrated by men against women. To protect the vulnerable women who encountered lot of physical and mental tortures, government enacted Domestic Violence Prevention Act 2005. 

The Domestic Violence Act provides adequate space for the victims of domestic violence by enforcing three major components, viz, Legal Measures, Preventive Measures and Protective Measures. TSSS, being appointed by the Government as the District Service Provider against Domestic Violence, is actively involved in enquires and counseling for rescue and rehabilitation of the victims of domestic violence. 

The team members of the Domestic Violence Act (Protection Officer, Social Welfare Officer, Family Counseling Centre Counselor and the Service Provider) enquire the petitioner and the respondent and find out the truth from their enquiries. The team will visit the homes and prepare DIR (Direct Inquiry Report). They submit the petition to the court. If both the parties were willing to live together without further problems they are reconciled. If not, rehabilitation measures for the protection and security of the affected women were ensured based on the fact finding. 

The particulars of our intervention and achievements

WELFARE OF DOMESTIC WORKERS

TSSS took strenuous efforts to organize the domestic workers and obtain identity cards for availing the welfare measures. So far 80 membership cards were received from the Labour Welfare department. Meetings were conducted to sensitize in this regard.

DOWRY PREVENTION ADVISORY BOARD:

The board consists of five members including District Social Welfare Officer, two advocates, one Social Worker and Counselor. The district social welfare officer presides over the sessions. During the sittings, the team conducts the enquiry with the petitioner as well as the respondent to find out the fact. 

Under the Dowry Harassment Prevention Act, 50 petitions were received during the year under review. 35 petitions were forward to us by AWPS and other police stations while the rest of the petitions were received directly from the social welfare office.