DLSA, Spt extends aid to challenged youth

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 10: District Legal Services Authority Senapati, with an objective to ensure justice to all, has taken up steps for extending necessary assistance to a 19 year old physically challenged youth under different schemes of National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). 
This was stated by A Noutuneswhari Devi, Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority Senapati, during an interaction with media persons, today.
She said that on April 17, DLSA Senapati, while conducting a legal awareness program for effective implementation of NALSA Schemes at Oinam village, located some 65 km away from Senapati HQ, come across the case of a 19 year old physically challenged youth, Arow CT, who is studying in class X at Oinam Hill Government High School.
He is a congenitally disabled child, born with only one hand having only two fingers, a distorted face and fish tail like right foot toe.
Explaining that Arow CT (19) is the son of Thozii CT of Thingba Khunou village (presently staying in the hostel of Oinam Hill Government High School), she said that on seeing the boy, DSLA Senapati felt that he needed special care and special assistance from the authority concerned as he belongs to a very poor tribal family of Thingba Khunou village and also to extend all possible legal aid to the family of the boy.
She continued that soon after, Para Legal Volunteers of DLSA Senapati proceeded to the boy's village and met his parents for extending legal assistance so as to provide benefits under the tribal alleviation scheme.
During the interaction with the PLVs, it also came to light that the boy faced many challenges, not only in studies, but also in his day to day life as he was brought up without any assistance and State or Central Government sponsored benefits. The PLVs also collected information from the Head Master of Oinam Hill Government High School about the boy.She explained that she had also sent a letter to the Member Secretary, Manipur Legal Services Authority, to look into the matter for providing assistance to the boy and his family through NALSA schemes.
Noutuneswhari said that a request has also been made to the Managing Director of Shija Hospital by DLSA Senapati to extend necessary possible means to the physically challenged boy under the scheme of Smile Train India, and expressed belief that a positive response will come soon.
Speaking to media persons, Arow CT said that he is fond of playing football despite being physically challenged and used to play guitar with his left hand and his foot.
He is the first among 4 siblings and he said that he is looking forward to becoming a Theologian in the future.
He also expressed gratitude to DLSA Senapati for providing assistance under NALSA  schemes.
Dahu RS, mother of Arow CT, said that as their village is located in a remote area of the Senapati district, they were not aware of the State and Central Government schemes for disabled persons.
Due to this, any kind of assistance have not been receivved till date and even the disabled certificate was received recently she said. She then expressed gratitude to the District Legal Services Authority Senapati for extending all possible legal aid to their family. Later Salam Somorjit, DC Senapati, an ex-Officio member of DLSA Senapati, extended monetary assistance of Rs 20000 to the boy at his office chamber in the presence of M Pradeep, SP Senapati, A Noutuneswhari and Makhabo, District Social Welfare Officer.