HALSA to launch vaccination programmes at its centres

Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 15

Travelling beyond the perceived function of just providing legal aid, Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA) on Thursday took another step towards the protection of people’s life and liberty by directing the launch of vaccination programmes at its alternate disputes redressal (ADR) centres across the state within a fortnight.

HALSA has already launched Covid awareness drive “Arrest the disease, wear a mask; don’t go close, cover your nose” and has extended help to 3.5 lakh migrants by arranging for their transit and food during the pandemic.

For ensuring vaccination at the village level, Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge and HALSA Executive Chairman Justice Rajan Gupta also suggested calling of reports from the sarpanches on inoculation and also on the release of pension and other old age benefits.

The directions were issued during videoconferencing held under Justice Gupta’s chairmanship with all chief judicial magistrates-cum-secretaries of the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs) in Haryana following the increase in Covid cases throughout the state.

Justice Gupta asked DLSA secretaries to hold vaccination campaigns in assistance with the health department to facilitate vaccination on voluntarily basis. The secretaries were also directed to step up Covid awareness and relief programmes.

Emphasising on the need to reach needy persons entitled to financial relief packages and other beneficial schemes launched by Central and state government, Justice Gupta further asked DLSAs secretaries to collaborate with the departments concerned.

They were also asked to extend assistance for ensuring speedy delivery of Aadhaar and voter cards and other requirements for availing the schemes. They were further asked to ensure maximum availability of benefit of HALSA, NALSA and other government schemes to the general public.

Justice Gupta also directed DLSAs to involve additional deputy commissioner of each district in their capacity of nodal officers in all its activities to ensure support from district administration, especially for ensuring relief to ordinary persons during the pandemic.

Directions were issued for holding frequent meetings with the local administrative officers and enhance the usages of legal literacy clubs already set up in private and government schools of Haryana.