Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Gangtok: The Sikkim State Legal Services Authority stepped in to help 57 families pushed out of their homes by recurring landslides in the Rimbi area of Gyalshing district. Officials confirmed the aid outreach on October 10 following the disaster that struck on September 24. The local District Legal Services Authority ran the operation under the National Legal Services Authority Scheme for Legal Services to Disaster Victims, 2010.
Staff hit the ground to help people file for compensation and recover lost documents. They also connected families with government welfare programs to bridge the gap caused by the sudden loss of livelihood. The authority acted to ensure, "financial hardship, displacement, loss of livelihood and other difficulties caused by the disaster do not prevent affected families from accessing legal assistance and remedies."
A temporary legal aid clinic opened to explain rights and walk residents through complex government paperwork. The teams also cleared mud to rescue trapped cattle. They helped families haul belongings to safer ground to prevent further loss of property.
The authority linked up with primary health centers in Yuksom and Darap to provide mental health support. Landslides continue to threaten the area. These families need steady institutional backing to recover their lives.
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