Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Mar 18: Nearly two years after ethnic violence in Manipur claimed over 200 lives and displaced more than 50,000 people, a six-member team of Supreme Court judges, led by Justice B.R. Gavai, will visit relief camps on March 22, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) announced on Tuesday.

The violence erupted on May 3, 2023, during a "tribal solidarity march" in the hill districts, protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. As part of the Manipur High Court’s 20th-anniversary celebrations, Justice Gavai—who serves as NALSA's Executive Chairman—will be joined by Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, M.M. Sundresh, K.V. Viswanathan, and N. Kotiswar Singh during the visit.

NALSA highlighted its collaboration with the Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) in providing legal aid and support to displaced communities. MASLSA has set up 273 special legal aid clinics in relief camps, assisting people in accessing government benefits, retrieving lost documents, and obtaining medical aid.

The upcoming legal services camps aim to connect internally displaced persons (IDPs) with government welfare schemes, ensuring access to healthcare, pensions, employment programs, and identity document reconstruction.