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Our Founder - Shyam Sundar Das

Shyam Sundar Das, the founder and moving spirit of CLAP was a lifelong Gandhian and an eminent non-jail going freedom fighter who dedicated his entire life for making of a sarvodaya order of society based on non-violence, truth and peace. His public work commenced immediately after Indian independence in 1947. He joined Bhoodan Movement and served as the translator for Vinova Bhave during his march for land gift movement in Odisha in 1952. He accepted voluntary poverty as a way of life after receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and Philosophy from Rajendra College, Bolangir and Bachelor's Degree in Law. He worked in the remote tribal areas of Koraput District for liberation of bonded labour and worked with Anna Saheeb Sahashrabudhe to run the first and only Non-Governmental Development Block in Boipariguda. During this period he started the first ever Cooperative Society and became a Director of it for a decade apart from establishment of the then largest Khadi productio

Vision, Mission & Goal

   Vision Being inspired by Democratic Values, more particularly the concept of Rule of Law and having full faith in Fundamental Human Rights with Dignity, the Legal Service Institute in short  CLAP visualises a Society where Justice and Equity Prevails  irrespective of sex, religion, caste, creed, colour and socio-economic status. Mission The Legal Service Institute-CLAP strives to eliminate injustice in its manifold manifestation and promotes justice. In this regard the CLAP, dedicates itself for promotion, enforcement and protection of Human Right with dignity in association with civil society organisations and governance systems. In its endeavour the CLAP uses Law, Legal Process and Legal System as a tool for empowerment and development of people. The mission statement of CLAP reflects its commitment towards accomplishment of Human Rights with Dignity, Democratic Development and Environmental Justice. The principle of Rule of Law is the fundamental premise within which th

CLAP: Its History and Evolution

The Legal Service Institute-CLAP owes its origin from the initiative of a group of Freedom Fighters of Indian independence movement who worked as Sarvodaya Constructive Workers pursuing Gandhian Principles in the post independence era with a vision of making of a constitutional governance society. In the beginning of the Indian Republic, they endeavored for promotion of constitutional governance of the country and focused on liberation of people from the Bondage from moneylender (Bonded Labour System as prevailed in India) in the post independent India. The untouchability experience of this group over 25 years, since India became a Republic in 1950, concerning the state of freedom of individual while working with bonded labour raised genuine concern over constitutional governance. It persuaded them to expand the horizon of their effort beyond bonded labour system and untouchability as they realized such practices was the result of injustice deep rooted in India, which is difficult to

About Committee for Legal Aid to Poor

The Legal Service Institute managed by CLAP, the acronym of Committee for Legal Aid to Poor, is a Non-Governmental Voluntary Organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (Act XXII of 1860) of India.  It is a legal service and advocacy organisation, which seeks to accomplish freedom, liberty, justice, equity and fair play for every individual in the society. For this purpose it promotes human right with dignity and democratic development. CLAP got registered as a Society on November 18th 1982. It traversed a long journey for realisation of Human Rights through the means of law in India and observed Silver Jubilee of its existence in 2007. It is based in Cuttack City (the erstwhile capital city of Orissa) in the State of Orissa in India. It works in various states of India with primary focus on Orissa. CLAP got registered as a Society on November 18th 1982. It traversed a long journey for realisation of Human Rights through the means of law in India and obser