RMLNLU Students Assist Migrant Workers During Pandemic!

In the times of such a crisis amidst this global pandemic, the students of the Legal Aid Clinic and the Legal Aid Committee of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow have come together to extend help to migrant workers stranded across the country.

Initiation of the Project

The Legal Aid Clinic of RMLNLU, collaborated with LAAC of NLU, Jodhpur in contacting migrant workers stranded in Surat, Gujarat who wanted to go back to their home towns in Jharkhand.

Assistance Provided

Initially, a team of about 20 volunteers contacted more than 1000 people whose details were procured in collaboration with NLU, Jodhpur. The migrant workers were facing a barrage of problems ranging from lack of transportation to shortage of food and unsanitary conditions. The volunteers also realised that many of the people had already managed to reach Jharkhand but were facing an acute shortage of food there. It was decided that apart from the transportation, other problems would also be resolved by the students of RMLNLU.

The volunteers roped in Ms. Varsha, an independent human rights worker in Jharkhand and the Right to Food Campaign, to ensure assistance for their mission. Block wise lists were compiled and sent to these NGOs who forwarded them to the Block Development Officers and coordinated with them to help the people in need. The efforts of the volunteers bore fruit when they were informed by the Hon’ble District Collector of the Girdih district, that more than 150 families had been provided with food.

Motivated by the success witnessed in Jharkhand, the Legal Aid Committee and the Legal Aid Clinic have made concerted efforts to increase their reach and provide assistance to those in need, in whichever way possible.

Way Forward

The students involved in this project are looking forward to other opportunities to extend their help to people in need in these trying times. Apart from the initiatives already undertaken, both, the Legal Aid Clinic and the Legal Aid Committee plan to take forward this initiative and collaborate with other NGOs and NLUs to enable provision of assistance on a larger scale.

The members of the Legal Aid Clinic, have formulated a report of their experience while taking part in this initiative and hope to inspire other Universities to contribute their resources to help people in times of this pandemic.

Click here for the full report.