A 60-day legal services drive by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Khammam is helping tribal residents and workers in the unorganised sector access government schemes, identity services and welfare support through village-level outreach.
The initiative, led by principal district and sessions judge-cum-chairman of the DLSA, M. Nagaraju, is focused on reducing the gap between vulnerable communities and the institutions responsible for delivering legal protections and public services. The programme covers tribal rights, poverty alleviation schemes and legal assistance for workers who often face difficulties navigating government departments.
Around 20 para-legal volunteers have been deployed for the drive. Their responsibilities include visiting villages, identifying eligible beneficiaries, assisting with applications and helping residents connect with the relevant authorities. The DLSA said the initiative is based on the principle that access to justice should extend beyond courtrooms and dispute resolution.
At a programme in Cherukupally village of Sathupally mandal, officials recorded 1,063 tribal residents in a total population of 1,243. The outreach resulted in the registration of 122 labour cards, of which nine were issued to beneficiaries. The report did not specify why the remaining registered applicants had not yet received their cards.
The programme also facilitated 37 Aadhaar enrolment and update services. Four toilet blocks and two wheelchairs were sanctioned for eligible beneficiaries by district authorities following the DLSA’s intervention. These services show how legal-aid outreach can also function as a link between residents and administrative benefits involving sanitation, identity documentation and disability support.
Justice Nagaraju said Jaipur Foot and prosthetic limbs were also provided to people who required them, with assistance from Rotary and Lions Clubs. The interventions were carried out in coordination with the district administration and the departments concerned.
The drive’s village-level model places para-legal volunteers between residents and public institutions, allowing the DLSA to identify people who may be entitled to benefits but have not completed the required application or documentation process. For tribal communities and informal workers, this administrative connection can be as important as legal advice because access to welfare frequently depends on awareness, paperwork and contact with the correct department.
The reported outcomes also underline the difference between announcing a public scheme and ensuring that eligible residents receive its benefits. Labour-card registrations, Aadhaar services, sanitation facilities and assistive devices were handled through coordination among the DLSA, district administration, government departments and voluntary organisations.
The 60-day campaign is continuing under the leadership of the Khammam DLSA. Its next steps, according to the report, involve further village-level outreach, identification of beneficiaries and assistance in connecting them with the authorities responsible for implementing the relevant schemes.
