TELE LAW SERVICE

Was launched in 2017, the Tele-Law program of the Department of Justice is an effective and reliable e-interface and pre-litigation mechanism which aims to connect needy and marginalized persons, in need of legal advice, through Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) with Panel Lawyers via video conferencing or telephonic facilities available at Common Service Centres situated at the Panchayat level.

The Union Minister of Law and Justice announced that from this year, Tele-law service was being made free of cost for the citizens in the country.

Feature of tele law service:           

• Accessibility: It is made accessible to citizens of India via video conferencing or telephonic facilities available at the common service center.
• Affordability: It is provided free of cost to those persons entitled to free legal aid under section 12 of the Legal Service Authorities Act 1987, with a nominal fee of  RS.30.
• Frontline functionaries: Para-legal volunteers have been stationed to act as intermediaries, bridging the gap between common people and the tele law service, and also creating public awareness about the tele-law.
• Real-time data: A dedicated tele law dashboard has been developed to capture real-time data on the nature of cases registered and advice enabled.

Significance of  tele service:

• This service aims to reach out to the needy, especially the marginalized and disadvantaged section of the society
• It enables anyone to seek legal advice without wasting precious time and money.
• It is available in 22 official languages.

Legal matters in which advice can be taken through Tele-Law service are:

• Dowry, family dispute, divorce, protection from domestic violence.
• Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, eve teasing at the workplace.
• Maintenance of women, children, and senior citizens.
• Rights regarding property and land.
• Equal wages for males and females.
• Maternity benefits and prevention of foeticide.
• Prohibition of child marriage, protection of children from sexual assault, prevention of child labour, and implementation of the right to education.
• Arrest – (F.I.R)/ process of registering the First Information Report.

• Common service center It is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY). CSCs are the access points for the delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. Common service centers are positioned as change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods. They are also enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with a key focus mainly on the rural citizen.

TARANGA HILL-AMBAJI-ABU ROAD

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the construction of the Taranga Hill-Ambaji- Abu Road new rail line which is to be constructed by the Ministry of Railways at an estimated cost of Rs 2798.16 crore. The total length of the new rail line will be 116.65 km and is expected to be completed by 2026-27

The route will go via Rajasthan's Sirohi district, as well as Gujarat's Banaskantha and Mahesana districts.

Significance of the project        

• It would enhance connectivity and improve mobility leading to the overall socio-economic development of that region.?
• As it connects the important pilgrimage sites and hence, it will facilitate easy travel for millions of devotees.
• It would also provide faster movement of agricultural and local goods, further it will enhance the  connectivity between Gujarat and Rajasthan.?
• It would provide the alternative route for the existing Ahmedabad-Abu Road railway line.

Important pilgrim site

• Ambaji is a famous pilgrimage temple site which is located in Gujarat and is included in 51 Shaktipeeths.
• It attracts millions of devotees from Gujarat as well as other parts of the country and abroad every year. Hence, this rail line will provide easy travel for these millions of devotees.
• Further, the devotees would visit the Ajitnath Jain temple (one of the 24 holy Jain Tirthankaras) at Taranga Hill and would also be greatly benefitted from this rail connectivity.