PLVs shall inform people about the free legal services of TLSC, DLSA etc., so that they can make use of these services whenever required. They shall also educate people about their constitutionally and statutorily guaranteed rights, and the right to live with dignity.
PLVs shall, with proper authorisation from DLSA/TLSC, visit jails, lockups, psychiatric hospitals, children’s homes/observation homes, and shall ascertain the legal service needs of the inmates and intimate the authorities concerned about any absence noticed of basic essential necessities with special emphasis on hygiene.
Dwivedi has not had the experience of visiting a jail so far, but she has been to observation homes of children. “For this, we get permission easily and have full support and guidance from the administration. We write complaints to them regarding children's issues,” she said.
Dwivedi has noticed that children get entangled in cases they have no connection with. She narrated the case of a boy aged 15, who was charged under Sections 303 (3) and 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita for theft. She said he was clueless about the sections charged or the future course of action when she met him at the observation home.
The boy hailing from Farukhpur village had to stay in an observation home for two months, and was released on bail on October 9. When asked about the incident, the boy told 101Reporters that some people had called him for work and he went to the worksite. “I was told to load pumpkins in a trolley. I did not know then that these were stolen items," he added.
The children lodged in observation homes miss their homes, so a PLV's motherly care is something that they always look forward to. “I feel very good when children sometimes call me ‘aunt’,” Dwivedi added.
PLVs are trained at Bareilly district court for seven days every year. In accordance with the curriculum prescribed by National Legal Services Authority, PLVs undergo orientation programme, basic training and refresher course.
Though PLVs are paid less, they often have to bear the food and transportation expenses of the victim, as they approach the matter from a humane angle. She cited the case of Madhu Sharma (56), who was beaten up by a baba (spiritual guru). She had gifted a portion of her property to the baba, who took offence when he could not take possession of the land the day he visited the place due to some confusion. The angry baba then beat up the women in such a way that she suffered brain injury.
"She went through so much that we had to arrange food for her. She was shifted to a dharamshala [shelter], where the rent was Rs 60 per day. After this, we thought of admitting her in an old age home, but that did not work out as she was less than 60 years of age. I then approached Ajay Kumar Shahi, Additional District and Sessions Judge, Bareilly. Taking note, he informed the district magistrate, who made arrangements for the woman's stay at a one stop centre," Dwivedi detailed.
The work of PLV is till the case reaches the court, as there is no way they can persuade the parties or resolve the dispute at that stage. However, in serious crimes like rape, domestic violence, or molestation, they do not have a role from the beginning itself as there is no question of compromise in such cases. [101Reporters/VS]
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