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>View discussions about this entry Country: India
Organization: Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP)
Year the initative began (yyyy) - 2004
Project URL: http://www.indefenceofchild.org
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
Describe your program or new idea in one sentence. - This is a right-based initiative that provides legal support to parents, family and community enabling them for shaping the future and prevent injustice on young.
What makes your initiative uniquely positioned to create change in your community? - Unlike the traditional adversarial legal aid programme, the present Legal Support empowers the parents, family and community to have equitable access to facilities and opportunities afforded by State to establish the rights of young men within the legal framework.
The biggest challenge rests in the fact that the state has enacted laws and formulated policies so that tender age of a person’s life is not abused but at the practical level it does not have impact in changing the quality of life of young men as there is no ownership by the parent, family and community in the implementation of laws both for the reason of less access to the system of governance and also lack of power to assert it. Describe how you organize and carry out your work? - Legal Intervention Strategy enables young men, their parent and their family as well as community to assert their right in a right-based approach for the holistic development of young men. As a matter of right the programme explores the health right of young men at risk both for care, protection and treatment of physical and mental health. For this purpose a group of activist-lawyers operates through a Legal Service Centre which organises various law based advocacy and mobilisation at the community level for building capacity so that the primary stakeholders can claim ownership in the process of implementation of laws having positive bearing on young men. At present the Centre focuses on 136 communities mostly resided by indigenous and dalit families where legal actions are being initiated in a collective approach for prevention of abuse and
What is your plan to scale and expand your innovation into your community and beyond? - The present initiative is being developed as a model which shall be used as an advocacy tool to seek change in the existing legal framework on the basis of learning from the field experience. The model will be replicated with the help of a wide network of NGOs and also the agencies of the state. While the innovation focuses on mobilisation of household and community to seek ownership in the implementation of law in order to scale and expand it a definite advocacy strategy has been developed. The advocacy shall revolve round development of a legal framework for the entire country where young men can have opportunity to realise their potential for a holistic development and they can be protected against all forms of injustice and exploitation. The advocacy shall also secure for young men a public health policy which ensures them care, protection and treatment of both physical as well as mental health. The health right for young men emanates in a broader premises that young men who are exposed to risk deserves appropriate health services from the state for a healthier life as it is the circumstances which inflicted
What other resources, institutional, or policy needs would be necessary to help sustain and scale up your idea? - There is a need to have skilled human resources who can document the programme process to show the impact. Financial resources to the tune of 500,000 US $ is also budgeted for expansion of the work over next 2-years for mobilisation, advocacy and documentation.
Describe your impact in one sentence, commenting on both the individual and community levels. - As a result of the present intervention access to facilities and opportunities for young men is established in the communities as they claim ownership in implementation of law with an understanding of positive aspect of
What impact has your work achieved to date? - It established the rights of person in their childhood which protects them from exploitation and provides access to opportunities for their transformation.
What measure do you use to gauge your impact and why? - A tool for impact assessment and evaluation has been developed which is termed as Objective Oriented Outcome Analysis (OOOA) which constantly reviews the impact in relation to (a) Change in Practices, (b) Change in Knowledge, (c) Change in Policy and finally (d) Change in the Quality of Life. The innovation impacted in the quality of life of young men and its form like the access to education, health services, protection from exploitation and empowerment at the level of young men.
How is your initiative currently being financed and how would you finance further expansion and/or replication? - The present innovation evolved from a project titled In Defence of the Child. It was further experimented under a project Right Path to Education. Now it is an inbuilt programme under a Project for which a grant is made available by Bernard Van Leer Foundation, The Netherlands. For its expansion, especially expansion of the age group from 18 to 25 so that covering a wider segment of young men population grants are being mobilised from donors.
Provide information on your current finances and organization: - a. annual budget
b. annual revenue c. sources of revenue (please provide percentages if known) d. number of staff (full-time, part-time, and volunteers) a. Annual Budget: INR 12,086,200.00 (12 million INR), b. Annual Revenue: 10,000,000.00(10 million INR), Sources of Revenue: Grant-in-Aid 94.62%, Service: 3.81%, Bank Interest: 1.27, other: 0.3%. d. number of Staff: Full Time: 34, Part-Time: 16, Volunteer: 30 Who are your potential partners and allies? - At the practical level there is a partnership with parents, family and community whereas for advocacy agencies of Govt. and civil society groups have been identified.
Who are your potential investors? - The investors range from foundations, private donors and government.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. - The present innovation originated from a project titled In Defence of the Child which was launched in 1998 supported by Bernard Van Leer Foundation, The Netherlands. It focused on protection of children within a legal framework. For that the In Defence of the Child Project was branched out with a specialised project called Right Path to Education in 2004 with support from Winrock International, USA. It relied on an idea that if education is made available to children as a right it finally ensures successful transition from childhood and beyond. At the beginning of 2007 all the lessons learnt from the previous experiences were consolidated to focus on a right based approach where people claim ownership in the implementation of law to prevent abuse and exploitation. It was carried out under the banner of Liberated Childhood Movement which has a vision of internalisation of law for a conducive environment for children with the partnership of individuals and civil society groups. The outcome of this process was huge participation by the society at large. This overall experience desired that in order to show the actual achievement for children in a right based approach there is a need to monitor the transformation made after end of childhood and in the life of young person. Therefore, the idea of Youth Equity Surveillance was developed which secures protection through use of law and empowers young men to establish their rights.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. - I am a trained lawyer works exclusively on human right issues especially public health issues of children since 1994. I am the Executive Vice President of Committee for Legal Aid to Poor and Team Leader of In Defence of the Child Project. I did my PhD (Doctoral) in Law and Governance with the subject Juvenile Justice, Child Right and the State in India from India’s premier institution Jawaharlal Nehru University. I served as Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners on Food Right.
Contact Information:
Bikash Das
Executive Vice President Committee for Legal Aid to Poor (CLAP) (Non-Governmental Voluntary Organisation) Discussions about this entry |
YES - Youth Equity Surveillance
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Dear Bikashji,
I am glad about your passion in thinking and turning your consideration into valid action for the betterment of the social order. What really makes an impression on me is your positive intrusion in enabling people to have access to the justice system. In my outlook this sort of service is rarely seen from the legal fraternities and that is why I believe you as one of the most excellent social servants in this country. I am also very much amazed with your anxiety for the care, protection and healing of physical and mental health of young men in a right based approach, which would surely be a positive determinant to the nation building process. When Govt has been deciding on for privatisation of health services and in the progression of shifting the responsibility, your search for exploring a legal framework for entitling right of people to health as legal right deserves a special honour.
Wish you an enormous success of your thought.
With best regards.
Alok Moharana, India
I will just sent my best regards to you... I was in CLAP for a month in 2005 together with 3 other students. I know that you are a man there inspire alot of people all over the world... keep on doing the good job.
i wish you the best of luck. and sent you my best greetings. Malene from Denmark, silkeborghøjskole 2005/2006
Dear Bikash,
Congratulation for your dynamism in thinking and translating your thought into real action for the betterment of society. What really impresses me is your positive intervention in enabling people to have access to the justice system. In my opinion this type of service is rarely seen from the legal fraternities and that is why I consider you as one of the best social servants in this country. I am also very much impressed with your concern for the care, protection and treatment of physical and mental health of young men in a right-based approach, which would surely be a positive determinant to the nation building process. When government has been opting for privatisation of health services and in the process of shifting the reasponsibility, your search for exploring a legal framework for entitling right of people to health as legal right deserves a special accolade.
I wish a great success of your vision.
Pramoda Kishore Acharya, India
Hi Bikash:
Having worked last summer with you and your wonderful organization, it is no surprise that you have taken on the incredibly important task of legal intervention for young men at risk. By using all the legal options and involving the extended family (parents and community), you have laid the foundation for making a very real difference for these young men and therefore for the country itself. Congratulations.
Pat Jacobson
Dear Bikash,
As a grassroot activist, a fellow of National Foundation for India I would like to congratulate you for your initiative to have a legal framework for Health Issues. Now that health services are being privatised, a legal framework can strengthen the Right to Health.
Thanking you,
Bhakta Bhai.
Hi Bikash,
Congratulation for your good works in pursuit of establishing the rights of young man at risk in India. It is a good idea that the primary stakeholders of the society i.e. parents, family, community should be empowered for claiming their ownership in the process of implementation of laws having positive bearing on young man at risk. Putting health right in your legal intervention agenda seems to be a challenging task, as the related laws has so far failed in changing the quality of life of young man. Hope you will overcome this challenge. As a women activist, I am very much concern over the care, protection and treatment of the adolescent girls at risk who very often are far away from access to support and services sponsored by State. Does your intervention adopt special strategy to address the rights of adolescent girls? Sincerely hope that your enterprise pays special respect to the rights of adolescent girls at risk. I once again congratulate you and yours lawyers team for undertaking this noble work in India.
Have a good luck.
Pravati Nayak,
Lawyer,
India.
Hi Bikash,
Congratulation for your good works in pursuit of establishing the rights of young man at risk in India. It is a good idea that the primary stakeholders of the society i.e. parents, family, community should be empowered for claiming their ownership in the process of implementation of laws having positive bearing on young man at risk. Putting health right in your legal intervention agenda seems to be a challenging task, as the related laws has so far failed in changing the quality of life of young man. Hope you will overcome this challenge. As a women activist, I am very much concern over the care, protection and treatment of the adolescent girls at risk who very often are far away from access to support and services sponsored by State. Does your intervention adopt special strategy to address the rights of adolescent girls? Sincerely hope that your enterprise pays special respect to the rights of adolescent girls at risk. I once again congratulate you and yours lawyers team for undertaking this noble work in India.
Have a good luck.
Pravati Nayak,
Lawyer,
India.
Dear Bikash,
This is a good idea to have a legal framework for young man at risk. But as a Researcher, it is my understanding that most of the legislations for social change do not work in India. So how do you plan to get the legislations on young man at risk, implemented? Of course, internalization of these legislations in the societal order can be used as an innovative method but we should be more careful of this because the general understanding of the society has been that implementation of laws is the sole responsibility of the State. This thought ignores the role of the society in promoting the legislative intent of the laws. Therefore, there is a need to reform this understanding of the people, which must find a place in the social reform agenda. Apart from focusing on legal support to parents, families and communities, your legal intervention strategy should emphasize on social reform through internalization of legislations relating to young man at risk.
Wishing your venture a great success.
Krupasindhu Nayak.
Social Scientist,
India.
Dear Bikash,
This is a good idea to have a legal framework for young man at risk. But as a Researcher, it is my understanding that most of the legislations for social change do not work in India. So how do you plan to get the legislations on young man at risk, implemented? Of course, internalization of these legislations in the societal order can be used as an innovative method but we should be more careful of this because the general understanding of the society has been that implementation of laws is the sole responsibility of the State. This thought ignores the role of the society in promoting the legislative intent of the laws. Therefore, there is a need to reform this understanding of the people, which must find a place in the social reform agenda. Apart from focusing on legal support to parents, families and communities, your legal intervention strategy should emphasize on social reform through internalization of legislations relating to young man at risk.
Wishing your venture a great success.
Krupasindhu Nayak.
Social Scientist,
India.
Mr. Bikash,
Congratulation for your several innovative initiatives to provide surveillance to the youth in our country. Surveillance is as important to a Nation’s security so it is also important for the best interest of the youth of a Nation. You are trying to protect the youth from exploitation and injustice through an umbrella of legal frame work.
As you are a research scholar on the subject and you are not talking superficially but you are experiencing your initiatives in the field lab at the grass root level.
Also your initiatives are not taken in isolation but you have tried to associate all the stakeholders including the state machineries. This shows that you are also playing the role of a facilitator.
You are providing voices to the youth by which they can realize their right to be heard.
More particularly your initiatives to provide identity to a youth through birth registration it helps youth to realise its several rights in their life including health rights.
Above all your initiatives are very much helpful for the youths to realise their rights guaranteed under several international conventions and National laws.
Once again I wish you and your team members all the best and hope you will get unconditional support from all corners who are interested for the best interest of youths in the world.
SHAIKH QURAISH
E-mail:-quraishsqshaikh@yahoo.com
31.1.08
Great job, Bikash!
I enjoyed reading your entry. It is clear that this is your passion and POSITIVELY something that is much needed. You are TRULY adding value to your community and helping your young men navigate the legal systems. For this, congratulations and continue to make a difference,
In Peace
Mary Brown
Life Pieces To Masterpieces, Inc.
Hi Bikash,
Your legal intervention formula for protecting the rights of youths seems to be very interesting. Youths living in indigenous and dalit communities are at the lowest ladder of existing legal framework and other state-sponsored interventions. The consequence is risking the rights of youth belonging to indigenous and dalit communities. Law based advocacy and capacity building of primary stakeholders of community can be considered as a well thought of intervention by your activists-lawyers for protecting and promoting the youth and adolescent rights in a Right Based Approach. As the legal framework seldom addresses youth and adolescent rights, your idea of developing an advocacy tool out of the present intervention for seeking changes in the existing legal framework is contextually relevant. Your advocacy effort for development of a Legal Framework for the entire country in order to protect the youth from all forms of discrimination, injustice and exploitation is an excellent dictum.
Wishing your valuable Endeavor a Great Success.
With Kind Regards,
Ramesh Kumar Mandal,
INDIA.
Hi Bikash, Let me congratulate you and your team of lawyer-activists for such commendable effort for securing the rights of youth through community vigilance. There are so many innovative as well as inevitable approaches seen in your initiative which attract my attention and best wishes for your team. The first and foremost thing is that it derives its strength from the laws and follows a right-based approach which is best suited to a country like India where there is no dearth of laws but what is lacking is that they never translated into action. The second thing which inspires me is that you take preventive measures for youth by involving parents, family and the community at large to take a pro-active role to assert the right of such vulnerable group. I think this bottom-up approach with community empowerment and participation is what makes your initiative unique and useful. Further such preventive measures with focus on health and education right of youth makes them fit to realise their potentials and dream in the later part of their life. Another point must be mentioned here that it seems to me you undertake both action and advocacy effort at the field level which bound to have considerable impact on the entire system attached to it. I’m inclined to know how you engage Govt. officials or system in your effort. Because I think they are most powerful players and have enough potential to influence your programme. At the end I again share by faith and confidence in your approach. With all the best wishes for you, your team and the organisation you belong. Ramakanta Satapathy. India.
It's really an unique endeavour for securing rights of the youth in a right based approach. The most important aspect of such intervention is that the community is mobilised to play its due role. And I think that's very essential for any society to be vigilant and protect the rights of its constituents. Thanks to the effort of Mr. Bikash who could sucessfully engaged lawyer-activist in this gigantic task. The Legal intervention strategy as used by Bikash and his organisation seem fascinating and it need to be replicated and shared worldwide. I think this becomes successful endeavour because it is based on previous experience of implementing In Defence of Child project. It seems it has been systematically planned and executed in a professional manner with a strong monitoring mechanism in place.
Kudos to Bikash and his team! Hope they shall keep focusing on care and protection of youth who in turn shall build a better tomorrow for future generation.
Purusottam Sahoo, India.
Hello Bikash, It's neat to see an entry that addresses the legalities that pertain to youth at risk. Could you share a story that describes the impact that you're having on families and the lives of at-risk youth? Thanks.
Dana Frasz
Changemakers
Dear Dana,
Before I share successful endeavor, let me reiterate that my organization CLAP mostly focuses on Mass Mobilization for internalization of law where individuals, families and communities claim ownership in implementation of Public Interest Laws. So success of our work needs to be viewed from amount of mobilization. One such mass movement is discussed below:
9th Oct. Orissa Bandh: The CLAP declared a Bandh call on 9th Oct. 2007 for internalisation of legislative provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act towards abolition of child labour system. The word “Bandh” means to stay off from day-to-day life. During the Bandh Call CLAP expected from the society to undertake some constructive works to abolish child labour system through internalization of reformist legislation in societal order. To observe the Day, the CLAP invited people of Orissa, Civil Society Groups, NGOs, etc. to take time off their day-to-day work to contemplate constructive actions, like Public March, Demonstrations, Picketing, to dedicate entire day at every individual level to eradicate Child Labour System. 200000 people voluntarily participated in various constructive activities in the Bandh. It could be organised across State through our Legal Network with 930 Civil Society Groups.
This mass mobilisation often results in change in present situations at individual and household level. Following case study narrates one such successful story:
Health Right of Young Men at Risk Asserted: CLAP Lawyers came across a number of young men suffering from different vision related problems due to engagement in bidi (indigenous Cigar) rolling and weaving sectors in Badamba Block. As the present legal framework of India does not directly addresses health right of young men, it started negotiating with JPM Rotary Eye Hospital to conduct Free Eye Check-up Camps. 21 nos. of free eye check –up camps could be organised for treatment of 1000 young men by Eye Specialists. On the basis of our learning now we have started an advocacy drive to provide health insurance to people who work at health risk sector.
Bikash Das.