Sarvodaya through Antyodaya

In the heart of India, where the echoes of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision will never die, one such vision i.e., societal development through his theory of Sarvodaya through Antyodaya continues to unfold. ?This mission aims to ensure that everyone reaches their fullest potential. This concept seeks to uplift the last and most deprived, turning dreams of comprehensive development into reality.

Despite Delhi being the capital city and one of the most romanticized metropolitan areas, approximately one-third of its population resides in sub-standard housing, encompassing 695 slums and JJ Clusters, 1797 unauthorized colonies, old dilapidated areas, and 362 villages. Those dwelling in slums and JJ clusters endure inhumane conditions, lacking even basic facilities like toilets and sewerage.

Turning our attention to the crime rate in parts of Delhi reveals a staggering 440% increase in major crimes over the last decade. According to the latest report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Delhi recorded 13,892 cases of crimes against women in 2021—a significant surge of more than 40% compared to 2020, when the figure was 9,782.

Regarding prison demographics, 77.1% of inmates were under-trials, and 22.2% were individuals convicted by a court of law. Alarmingly, three out of every five undertrial prisoners across Indian prisons hail from Dalit, Adivasi, and OBC communities.

To valorize the challenges thereof, Delhi State Legal Services Authority, on the occasion of Legal Services Day, launched a week-long campaign titled “????: ????? ???? ?? ???? ???” to emphasize the values and services provided under the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987 with an objective to reach the last and most deprived, spreading legal literacy on a large scale and providing efficient legal aid, as mandated under Section 12 of the said act.

What grabs my attention the most is the name of the project i.e., “????,” which is borrowed from the context of Indian classical music, which signifies the ascending scale of notes in a raga. Another interpretation of the word can be seen in Vedanta, it represents a particular order of ascent or progression —a poignant reminder of the journey from Gandhi’s vision of Sarvodaya through Antyodaya. Both meanings reaffirm the intuitive notion that “industries should view themselves as trustees and servants of the poor”.

I had the privilege of being part of the culmination program, in the graceful presence of Hon’ble Justice Mr. Manmohan, Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Mr. Rajiv Shakdher, Justice Suresh Kumar Kaith, and other distinguished judges from the High Court and Districts of Delhi. During the event, it was revealed that DSLSA, through its subsidiaries DLSA, organized around 260 programs across all 12 districts during this week-long campaign, benefiting an impressive count of more than 67,000 beneficiaries. These include women, sex workers, individuals from SC-ST communities, acid attack victims, under-trial prisoners, victims of trafficking or begging, and residents of observation homes. The event also marked the launch of a project titled “?????????” (A Step for Reintegrating the Convicts), embodying a significant step towards prison reforms and exemplifying the idea of "????" in terms of Legal Aid & Legal Services.

At last, what was the best part about the event?

Well, you cannot choose one when it comes to events like this.

The detailed information about the event is reported on live law- https://www.livelaw.in/events-corner/dlsa-aaroh-vidhik-sewa-ke-badhte-kadam-national-legal-services-day-242659

Co-authored by Kunal Kumar (Para legal, DLSA)

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