DLSA Jammu spreads legal awareness among ‘Vridh Ashram’ inmates
Jammu, Oct 12: A team of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Jammu Sunday visited the “Home for the Aged and Infirm” - Vridh Ashram at Ambphalla to spread awareness among inmates.
The team comprised advocate Snigdha Shekhar, panel lawyer of the DLSA, Jammu; Sushma Parihar, Para Legal Volunteer (PLV), Monika and Vishakha Bhat.
The purpose of the visit by the team under the directions of the Secretary, DLSA, Jammu, was to create awareness among the elderly residents about their legal rights and to inform them about the free legal aid and assistance services available through DLSA.
Snigdha Shekhar interacted with the inmates in a warm and compassionate manner, explaining their rights in simple language and assuring them that DLSA would extend all possible legal assistance free of cost whenever required.
During the interaction, the inmates were encouraged to share any legal concerns or grievances they might have. Although none of the residents expressed any immediate need for legal aid, they collectively raised an important issue — the non-receipt of their monthly old-age pensions due to the absence of domicile certificates and ration cards.
Dr Dinesh Gupta, Secretary of the Home, along with Sat Pal Sharma, Managing Committee member and life members Rajinder Singh and Dr R Thappa, apprised the DLSA team that most of the inmates had been residing at the institution for many years and were no longer in a position to return to their native places.
They further suggested that if domicile certificates and PHH ration cards were issued afresh in the name of the Home as their permanent address, the elderly residents would become eligible to receive their monthly old-age pensions from the Social Welfare Department, as well as benefit from the Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme.
The visit concluded with a note of appreciation from the management of the Home and an assurance from the DLSA team to take up the matter with the concerned authorities to explore suitable measures for ensuring that the deserving elderly residents receive their rightful welfare benefits and entitlements.
