NALSA has launched a national competition for law students called ‘Connecting with the Cause’ to promote legal awareness. The initiative encourages students to engage with legal issues and raise awareness about the importance of justice. The competition aims to inspire young lawyers to be more involved in serving society. It is a great opportunity for law students to contribute to social causes and strengthen their legal knowledge.
New Delhi: NALSA Launches Nationwide “Connecting with the Cause” Competition for Law Students Under the Leadership of Justice B.R. Gavai.
The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), led by Hon’ble Mr. Justice B.R. Gavai, Executive Chairman, announced the launch of a nationwide competition for law students titled “Connecting with the Cause”.
This competition is aimed at raising public awareness of legal aid and the importance of various NALSA schemes, empowering students to create impactful content on crucial social and legal issues.
The competition launched on the birth anniversary of Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, a key figure in India’s social reform movement. It is inspired by the Supreme Court’s observations in the case Suhas Chakma v. Union of India & Ors. (W.P. No. 1082 of 2020), where the Court emphasized the need to increase public awareness about the legal aid system in India.
The “Connecting with the Cause” competition will focus on a variety of NALSA schemes and related legal topics, encouraging law students across India to use modern media tools such as reels and short films. These media formats will help engage the public and highlight legal rights and the availability of legal aid services.
Some of the key topics for the competition include:
- NALSA (Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation) Scheme, 2015
- Lok Adalat and Mediation
- NALSA (Legal Services to Victims of Drug Abuse and Eradication of Drug Menace), Scheme, 2015
- NALSA (Legal Services to Victims of Acid Attacks) Scheme, 2016
- NALSA (Legal Services to the Workers in the Unorganized Sector) Scheme, 2015
- NALSA (Legal Services to Senior Citizens) Scheme, 2016
- NALSA’s Compensation Scheme for Women Victims/Survivors of Sexual Assault/Other Crimes – 2018
- NALSA (Protection and Enforcement of Tribal Rights) Scheme, 2015
- NALSA (Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024
To ensure fair representation and competitive selection, law colleges will submit their top two entries one in each category (Reels and Short Films) to the concerned District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) or Taluk Legal Services Committee (TLSC). The winners from each zone will be selected by NALSA and receive cash prizes of Rs. 10,000 for the winner and Rs. 5,000 for the runner-up.
This competition offers a unique platform for law students to creatively engage with social justice issues while also enhancing their understanding of legal aid provisions and their impact.
The Zonal Reel Making & Short Film Competition will be launched on 3rd January, 2025, targeting law students across India, with the objective of raising awareness about NALSA schemes and promoting legal aid. Law colleges are required to submit their entries to DLSA/TLSC for review, and the winners will be awarded cash prizes of Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000 per zone.
This initiative represents NALSA’s ongoing commitment to improving access to legal aid for the underserved and ensuring that the legal framework reaches every citizen of India.
NALSA stands for the National Legal Services Authority. It is a government body set up in India under the Legal Services Authorities Act of 1987. The main goal of NALSA is to provide free legal help to poor and disadvantaged people, ensuring that everyone can access justice, no matter their financial situation. NALSA works to raise legal awareness, offer free legal aid, and organize Lok Adalats (people’s courts) to settle disputes quickly.
NALSA collaborates with State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) and District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) to carry out its work. The services it offers include legal help for vulnerable groups like women, children, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and economically weaker sections of society. NALSA also focuses on teaching people about their legal rights and protecting those rights.
It plays an important role in making sure that the right to justice, as promised in the Indian Constitution under Article 39A, is protected.
Read Attachment