Calcutta group looking to provide 24/7 free legal advice

In an effort to give legal aid to poor or marginalized citizens, an NGO in Calcutta, India is looking to turn its help-line into an around-the-clock operation. The Orissa State Legal Services’ Authority (OSLA) has provided the aid since late 2006 and fields an average of about 100 calls a month. OSLA started the line to help poor people get advice in the face of increased incidents against them.

Osla offers its services to Dalits, members of Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes, women and children, special people, industrial workers, prison inmates and victims of natural calamities and riots, said Subhendra Mohanty, the member-secretary of Osla.

As a part of the helpline a panel of lawyers extend their advice to callers. Eight lawyers attend phone calls in two shifts between 10am and 6pm for five days a week.

Prompted by the response to the helpline, Osla is now working towards turning the service into a round- the-clock one.

Negotiations are on with the United Nations Development Programme to have a toll-free telephone facility for it. “A toll-free line will enable a larger number of poor to seek aid through the helpline,” said Madhusudan Dhal, the deputy secretary of Osla.”

The text can be read here.

SS