BLAST has been providing legal aid to the needy selected on the basis of low range of income (TK. 3000/- or less per month) on pro bono basis. Simultaneously, it is contributing to increasing general awareness of the concept of legal redress and the availability of free legal aid to the poor. BLAST has developed its expertise in protecting the rights of people in areas like labour rights, violence against women, trafficking, child rights, legal counselling and training for community awareness and Salish. BLAST in recent years greater number of deprived and aggrieved workers, specially from the garments industries are seeking assistance from BLAST to resolve conflicts with their employers and to secure their rights at work. Albeit informal, BLAST has created a niche for law based mediation or Shalish before accessing courts to promote support for good cause in a friendly and less experience manner.
Legal Aid Services at a glance (August 1994 to September, 2007)
|
Head Office & Unit Offices |
Complaints received |
Mediation |
Cases Filed |
Settled Case |
Recovered money through mediation and Litigation |
|
Aug 1994 |
589 |
8 |
459 |
23 |
|
|
1995 |
1,202 |
43 |
726 |
273 |
|
|
1996 |
1,596 |
90 |
1,037 |
452 |
|
|
1997 |
2,389 |
172 |
1,460 |
766 |
|
|
1998 |
3,496 |
226 |
2,256 |
1,192 |
|
|
1999 |
4,531 |
320 |
2,836 |
1,581 |
|
|
Jan 00 to Mar 01 |
6,204 |
543 |
3,490 |
2,626 |
1,919,808 |
|
Apr 01 to Mar 02 |
4,447 |
782 |
2,157 |
2,227 |
2,614,364 |
|
Apr 02 to Mar 03 |
5,756 |
997 |
3,021 |
2,412 |
8,715,176 |
|
Apr 03 to Mar 04 |
8,874 |
1,518 |
4,049 |
2,514 |
18,627,319 |
|
Apr 04 to Mar 05 |
12,585 |
2,213 |
5,959 |
2,991 |
12,901,461 |
|
Apr 05 to Mar 06 |
14,134 |
2,585 |
6,418 |
3,940 |
26,811,948 |
|
Apr 06 to Mar 07 |
13,661 |
2,751 |
6,438 |
4,716 |
26,140,679 |
|
Apr 07 to Sep 07 |
9,074 |
1,740 |
3,765 |
2,377 |
18,057,366 |
|
Total |
88,538 |
13,988 |
44,071 |
28,090 |
115,788,121 |
· 7,572 complaints are pending for mediation and litigation Up to September 2007.
· Total Case filed 44,071, settled 28,090 (64%) Pending Case 15,981 (36%)
· Out of 28,090 settled cases 19,494 (69%) were in favour of our clients, 2,307 (8%) were against our clients and 6,289 (22%) were dismissed for default due to absence of clients