Prayagraj, May 1, 2025 — In a significant step toward promoting legal literacy and social justice, Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University (RPNLU), Prayagraj, through its Legal Aid Society, commemorated International Labour Day with a grassroots legal awareness initiative aimed at empowering labourers working in the brick kilns of Gohri Village, Soraon, Prayagraj.
The outreach program was organized under the patronage of the Uttar Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), chaired by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta, and was conducted under the guidance of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Senior Professor (Dr.) Usha Tandon.
Empowering Labourers through Legal Awareness
A dedicated team of RPNLU law students, accompanied by faculty members, conducted the awareness drive by directly engaging with the labourers at the site. The key highlight of the event was a street play (Nukkad Natak) titled ‘Utthan’—meaning upliftment—which artistically portrayed the harsh realities faced by brick kiln workers, including issues such as child labour, lack of access to education, and unsafe working conditions.
The performance not only highlighted the systemic inequalities faced by labourers but also served as an impactful tool for legal education and advocacy.
Awareness on Legal Rights and Government Schemes
Labourers were sensitized about various labour welfare laws and government initiatives, including:
- e-Shram Card
- Ayushman Bharat Yojana
- Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act
- Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act
- Right to Education Act
The team emphasized the importance of workplace safety and the legal consequences of employing children in hazardous occupations. Officials from the Soraon Tehsil administration actively participated and guided the labourers on how to avail benefits of these government schemes.
Voices of Commitment
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Sr. Prof. (Dr.) Usha Tandon, in her address, remarked:
“Labourers, often unskilled and uneducated, remain unaware of their legal rights and the welfare measures available to them. The Legal Aid Society of RPNLU is dedicated to providing pro bono legal services and remains committed to advancing social justice, public legal education, and the empowerment of marginalized sections of our society.”
Continued Commitment to Social Justice
The Legal Aid Society of RPNLU, Prayagraj, through such inclusive outreach programs, continues to build a culture of legal literacy, empowerment, and equitable development. The observance of International Labour Day in the heart of Gohri Village stands as a testament to the university’s ongoing mission to bridge the legal awareness gap and ensure access to justice for all.
