Sharda University students participated in Community Connect and Legal Aid Program

Around 19 students from School of Law, Sharda University actively participated in the “Community Connect and Legal Aid Program”. A visit to an old age home was organized by District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Gautam Budh Nagar to celebrate the importance of life among the underprivileged fellow beings. A health check up camp was also set up at the old age home by Sharda Hospital, where primary health and eye diagnosis of all the residents at the old age home was done. Ms. Neelu Mainwal, Secretary, DLSA – Gautam Budh Nagar and Dr. Arpit, Sharda Hospital was present during the visit at the Old Age Home in Jhalara, Dankaur, Guatam Budh Nagar. 

The programme aimed to learn and observe the role of DLSA as a helping hand to residents of the home and active interaction with residents to learn their day to day life with a view to understand the legal problems faced by them. Ms. Neelu Mainwal interacted with the residents and heard their grievances and provided them with useful legal advice and assurance of further legal assistance by DLSA.

The legal problems faced by the residents were related to obtaining the financial assistance in the form of maintenance under the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen Act, 2007 and pension under National Social Assistance Schemes. Many residents were not able to avail these financial assistances because of lack of awareness and technical assistance as well as most of them did not have the AADHAR, Family Income Certificates, Domicile certificates and Bank Accounts. Law students shared moments of joy with senior citizens and instilled a sense of well-being in them as part of community service.