Center for Land Rights in Andhra Pradesh, India
The absence of information about land rights has been largely responsible for people in rural India being marred in poverty. It is estimated that thousands of court cases pertaining to land issues represent 20 percent of rural land in Andhra Pradesh state, according to government officials.
Justice is slowed for people living in poverty due to an unawareness of law, lack of legal assistance and ineffective implementation of pro-poor land laws.
To address these shortfalls, the state government in collaboration with Landesa’s partner in India, RDI, and NALSAR University of Law, are establishing a new Center for Land Rights at NALSAR campus.
Objectives of the Center
- Build capacities of paralegals, revenue officers and others working to secure land rights for poor families
- Undertake research studies in land rights, legal aid and paralegal services
- Take up initiatives for spreading legal awareness on land laws and strengthen land rights paralegal services
The Centre has a series of activities related to awareness generation for rural families of their rights and capacity building of government officials and paralegals to implement those rights. These activities will be jointly organized by NALSAR and RDI during 2011-12.
Programs of the Center:
- Technical trainings and workshops for paralegals and other functionaries working on land rights for the poor
- Research studies on the particular legal needs of rural families living in poverty
- Establish a land rights helpline
- Publish a newsletter on land laws written in English and the regional language, Telegu, for circulation among policy makers, local officials, law students, media, NGOs and paralegals.