Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 4: The Law School, University of Jammu, organized a day-long Legal Aid and Legal Literacy Camp at Rohi Morh, Gadigarh, blending academic rigor with grassroots empowerment.
This initiative, supported by the local community, provided 65 final-semester BA LL.B. students a hands-on platform to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings while bridging the justice gap for marginalized populations.
The camp saw active participation from faculty members, High Court advocates, media professionals, NGOs, and civil society leaders, fostering a collaborative approach to legal awareness and aid.
The event began with an introductory session emphasizing the role of such outreach programs in democratizing access to justice. Esteemed speakers, including Dinesh Gupta (former Secretary, Red Cross Society and Social activist), Adv Kiran Thakur (founder DHIRA Organization), Adv Ashutosh Khanna, Rajat Sharma ( founder Unique Jan Kalyan Seva Samiti), and Pankaj Khajuria (Journalist), shed light on rural legal challenges and the power of pro bono services and literacy initiatives. Discussions particularly focused on laws and welfare schemes for women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Earlier, Prof Seema Rohmetra, Director, The Law School, highlighted the institution’s extension mandate, stressing multi-stakeholder partnerships to translate constitutional rights into reality.
As part of the camp, students conducted a socio-legal household survey to assess local awareness levels and systemic hurdles in availing legal protections. “Beyond legal literacy and legal consultations, our goal is to link communities with relevant agencies for sustainable solutions,” added Seema Rohmetra.
The camp witnessed overwhelming public engagement, with residents actively seeking guidance from students and experts while the interaction enriched the learners’ understanding of field-level legal barriers. Local organizers Mulkh Raj Sharma, Komal Sharma, Kamya Sharma, and Suraj played a pivotal role by facilitating door-to-door surveys, ensuring smooth data collection.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Monica Narang, Camp Coordinator. The proceedings were conducted by Vijay Sharma, a noted social activist. Other key contributors included Pitamber Sharma, Dr Monika Bhardwaj, Dr Palvi Mathavan Puri, Dr Renu Jamwal, Dr Rajneesh Khajuria, Dr Upasana Sharma, Dr Vandita Sharma, Dr Ramesh Kumar, Dr Nitan Sharma, Barinder, Veerta and Balram.