Kozhikode District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) won the award for the best DLSA in the state for the year 2022. The award was announced at the annual convention of the Kerala State Legal Services Authority in Kochi on Friday.
Kozhikode DLSA was selected for the award for its interventions to help differently-abled people, intellectually challenged children, women, children and tribals.
Under the chairmanship of District Judge S Krishnakumar, the Kozhikode DLSA has launched a number of activities for the differently-abled. Its intervention has helped more than 10,000 persons with disabilities to appear in various examinations with the assistance of scribes/interpreters. It also played a major role in setting up the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) and the Composite Regional Center for the Differently Abled as agencies to provide Medical Board Certificates to the differently abled. In addition, DLSA Was instrumental in getting the right to vote for a differently abled person. In a landmark intervention, it helped Arya Raj, a teenager affected by cerebral palsy, fighting for a disabled-friendly environment at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).
‘Oppamundu Epozhum’ is a unique project of Kozhikode DLSA, under which it can ensure rehabilitation of the wanderers in Kozhikode city. Legal awareness programs for professionals and infrastructure support for various government institutions were some of the major activities of the agency during 2022. It organized programs under child friendly legal services. These included capacity building programs for internet addiction recovery, clinics against campus ragging and child marriage, and Childline. Under the protection and enforcement of the Tribal Rights Scheme, it has been able to hold courts in tribal colonies, ensure ration and electricity connections to tribals.
Kozhikode Taluk Legal Services Committee President and District Judge Salih KE along with DLSA Kozhikode Secretary and Deputy Judge MP Shaijal, KLSA Executive President K.K. Received the award from Vinod Chandran. Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur bagged the second prize, while Palakkad and Kottayam DLSAs came third.