THE GOA STATE LEGAL SERVICES AUTHORITY
VISION :
The preamble of Legal Services Authority Act, 1987 reads as under:
“An Act to constitute legal services authorities to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.”
Effective Legal Services apparatus is indispensable for the functioning of the largest democracy of the world.
Pivotal functions of Legal Services Authorities in the State of Goa include free and competent legal aid services to needy litigants, effective ADR mechanism and clinically planned awareness and empowerment programmes for vulnerable sections of the society.
By Continuous unique initiatives with convergence of all stakeholders and handholding with District Administration, it is endeavoured to see that in true sense “Access to Justice for all” gets realized.
MISSION :
The Goa State Legal Services Authority has taken innovative measures and has launched unique initiatives to ensure that social, economic and political justice as assured by the Constitution of India reaches the marginalized segment of the society.
In order to achieve the objectives set forth, the State Legal Services Authority is duty bound to ensure that the spectrum of Legal Services activities remains wide with the range of ideas and qualities. The horizons of Legal Services activities for any Legal Services Authority are now not confined merely in providing the facility of free and competent legal aid to the litigants, but has been expanded to the greatest extent. The Legal Services Authority acts as a bridge between the State Authorities and the beneficiaries while helping beneficiaries to avail the welfare schemes floated by the state Government. This requires and efficient awareness and empowerment programming by the State Legal Services Authority.
In order to outreach maximum number of vulnerable sections of the society, innovative outreach programmes are to be conceived; strong work-force of PLVs is to be prepared; coordinated and convergent efforts with the District Administration by DLSAs have to be ensured and honest and tireless endeavor at all levels is required. While it is important that we offer legal aid to the needy and marginalized, we must make sure that the legal aid is not poor in quality. We must also ensure that inexpensive and prompt justice is secured through effective ADR modes in the form of Lok Adalat and Mediation. The Goa State Legal Services Authority proposes to ensure that the benefits of legal services as well as welfare schemes floated by the Governments and NALSA reach to the person living in the remotest part of the state by way of various mediums like, Legal Literacy Camps, Legal Awareness Programmes, etc.
Extensive awareness and outreach programmes have been carried out by DLSAs for all vulnerable sections of society identified by NALSA. For effective implementation of NALSA Schemes, Layout Plan is put into practice. All the Chairman and Secretaries of DLSAs have done strenuous work for improving standards of legal services activities.