About the Author
Adv. Alexy JoyEditor of LJRFCurrently pursuing LLM from CUSAT.
Kollam is the first constitution-literate district in the country. The constitutional values should be merged with our governance and lives to achieve complete constitutional literacy.Secularism is constitutional. No religion is above or below another. Efforts to deviate people from secular values should be seen seriously. Here there is the freedom to live even without faith in religion. The majority of the people are secular. Attempts should be made to promote scientific temper and rationality.” Attempts are being made to destroy the nation’s unity in diversity. Constitutional values rooted in kindness and love for fellow beings will help challenge all this. Chief minister said, ” Kollam district has achieved Constitution literacy as the result of its seven-month-long constitution literacy campaign, which was jointly launched by the Kollam district panchayat, Kerala Institution of Local Administration and District Planning Committee, which aimed to create awareness about various aspects of the citizen’s rights. People were educated by the trainers called ‘senators’, who visited offices, schools, auto stands and tribal councils and created awareness among citizens.The state has worked on imparting constitutional literacy and values among citizens. The government’s efforts have brought together the importance of the constitution, which was scattered earlier. It is a remarkable achievement for the district.
Activities Done in Kollam district to implement or to provide awareness about the constitutional literacy.
India’s constitution is not an easy read. It consists of a preamble, 470 articles grouped in 25 parts with 12 schedules and 105 amendments. Even lawyers find it hard to fully comprehend.
Therefore, KILA prepared a version of the constitution which is easily understandable. Important provisions of the constitution are explained by linking them to their day-to-day life.This has enabled the people, especially the women, to engage in debates and discussions about the constitution in the language and contexts known to them.
Out of the 1230 citizens in his ward , 350 belong to Scheduled Caste communities and more than 400 rely solely on MGNREGA for livelihood.
Out of the 1230 citizens in his ward , 350 belong to Scheduled Caste communities and more than 400 rely solely on MGNREGA for livelihood.
“It was impossible to assemble the most downtrodden people for training. That left us with no other option but to go to the doorsteps of each house,” said Ms Anu Anikuttan, a post graduate in History who also became one of the first instructors for the campaign.
Ms Anikuttan proudly took this opportunity after a three day residential training on the constitution from experts at KILA.She went to houses, shops, schools and even MGNREGA work sites in the jungle to reach as many people as possible.Later five more women from her village joined as instructors. 2400 instructors, also called senators, were mobilized to reach 68 village panchayats, four municipalities and one corporation in the district.
“More than 70 percent of the senators involved are women. They are extremely eager and love educating people. I’m extremely proud of them,” said Mr Sudesan, Deputy Director of KILA.The instructors receive a monthly honorarium of Rs 1000.
“It’s not the honorarium but the great service I’ve bestowed upon the most marginalized section in our society that makes me happy,” said Anikuttan.
Besides taking up the herculean task of training lakhs of people, they also printed and distributed more than 48,000 copies of the preamble to the constitution to houses, shops and public offices in the district.
The biggest lesson that MGNREGA worker P Latha has learned is about equal opportunity enshrined under Article 16 of the Indian constitution. But she is unconvinced about this constitutional promise.
“As per my knowledge, our constitution speaks about equal opportunities, but never ensures jobs for poor people like me. Why?” asks Latha. Almost all of the women workers had this question
In the wake of the prevailing unemployment, Kudumbashree, a government controlled women self-help group has launched a self-employment training programme with the assistance of Thenmala village panchayat.
“Around 60 constitutionally literate unemployed women have already joined the tailor training program. But after the training, they have to be provided with financial help to begin their own ventures,” said Vijaya Lakshmi Vijayan, Chairman of Kudumbashree, Thenmala panchayat.
Apart from unemployment, many people asserted that corruption and the lackadaisical attitude of some government employees are the major hurdles in implementing constitutional rights.
“This is only the beginning. People should raise their voice to protect their constitutional rights. We have to wait some more time for realizing the impacts of constitution literacy,” said Mr Sudesan.
Suggestions
1.Initiate constitutional awarness campaign.
2.Prepare a version of the constitution which is easily understandable ro common people.
3.Connect KILA, Kudumbashree and Local authority members to provide awareness about constitution.
4.Appoint volunteers to take classes about constitutional literacy.
5.Each area should supervise lawyers of that locality to provide proper guidance.
