Anup Surendranath
Medha Deo
Dr. Vijay Raghavan
Sharli Mudaliyar
Saugata Hazra
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PUBLISHED
2023
Legal Representation for Undertrials in Maharashtra (2018-2021)
Legal Aid
To study the intervention, challenges, learnings and the projected way forward, by means of the Model Programme- for providing quality legal representation in prisons- instituted by The Azim Premji Foundation and Government of Maharashtra (Fair Trial Programme and Prayas).
Process
The report looks at the work and journey of two implementing partner organisations of the programme- Fair Trial Programme and Prayas, and reflects on their interventions through legal and social work fellows, from 2018 to 2021. The work included:
- Institutional collaborations by the programme with FTP and Prayas
- Setting up a fellowship model comprising of both Legal and Social Work Fellows
- Integration of interventions with prison and legal services authorities
- Proactively offering legal services with a higher degree of responsiveness
- Effective coordination between the prison, LSAs, Panel Advocates, courts, and families of clients in providing legal services
- Understanding the challenges faced and insights gained during the programme
- Devising a way forward for better legal aid representation to the undertrial prison population
