Sóz Centre for Women’s Legal Assistance Launched at Bengaluru School
Bengaluru: The Sóz Centre for Legal Assistance to Women was inaugurated at Excellent English School in Bismillah Nagar, Bengaluru, marking the launch of a new initiative aimed at helping women deal with legal issues at home, at work, and in society.
The centre is an initiative of ReachLawyer Trust and functions under its Sóz programme. The programme focuses on spreading awareness about women’s legal rights and providing access to quality legal advice through a dedicated team of lawyers. ReachLawyer Trust also works to build professional skills among lawyers, especially those from marginalised and stigmatised communities.
The Sóz Centre at Excellent English School is the first of its kind under the programme. The school has extended full support to the initiative and has deputed staff to assist with its functioning. Women can approach or contact the centre on any day to seek legal clarifications and advice. The programme is especially designed for women who find it difficult to access legal support, understand their rights, or make informed choices while pursuing litigation.
The centre was inaugurated by B. T. Venkatesh, former State Public Prosecutor and founder of ReachLawyer. Addressing the gathering, Dr Benazeer Baig, founder of Excellent English School, spoke about the difficulties faced by women, particularly those from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. She said the Sóz Centre would offer legal advice on a pro bono basis and assist women in securing their rights before courts at a fractional cost.
In his address, B. T. Venkatesh spoke about the rights assured to women under various laws and the gap between legal protections and their actual use. He said that while laws are strong and provide effective safeguards, many women are unable to access them. Referring to the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, he urged women to be confident, resist abuse, and seek legal remedies.
Dr Benazeer Baig, founder and director of Raza Educational Society and Excellent English School, expressed concern over the growing challenges faced by women within families and communities. She said discrimination and abuse are often treated as everyday realities and stressed the need for more centres like Sóz. She also highlighted the school’s role in supporting and participating in the programme.
Dr Kalpana Purushottaman, a counsellor, academician, and child rights activist, spoke about the importance of women speaking up, seeking legal advice, and standing firm to protect their rights. She assured her active involvement along with support from her students for the Sóz Centre in collaboration with the school.
Advocate and activist Akhila Vidyasandra highlighted the challenges women face and underlined the need for women to assert their rights and seek legal protection.
A team of lawyers from ReachLawyer, including Aparna, Tuba Sanobar, Nitin Bubberjung, Ravi, Shankar, N. K. Vinoda, and Mubarak, along with counsellors from the Indian Institute of Psychological Research, took part in consultations and interacted with women seeking legal assistance.
The programme was well attended, with several women seeking guidance. The initiative also served as a platform for women to understand basic legal protections available to safeguard their rights.
Contact details:
Call or WhatsApp:
Nitin Bubberjung: 9036089137
Tuba Sanobar: 9689295684
Kufciya: 8884701964
Email: speak2soz@gmail.com
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4 Indian students among several injured in stabbing attack in Russia
Moscow (PTI): At least six people, including four Indians students, were injured on Saturday in a stabbing attack at a university in Russia's Bashkortostan Republic, media reports and the Indian mission here said.
According to preliminary reports, a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic. He attacked the students living there and stabbed several of them, the Interior Ministry said.
“The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI.com webportal.
Calling it an "unfortunate incident", the Indian Embassy here said, "Several persons including four Indian students have been injured."
The Embassy said it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan are en route to Ufa to provide assistance to the injured students.
In a release, the Russian Federal Health Ministry said that four people injured in the attack are receiving medical care. One is in serious condition, while three others are in moderate condition, it added.
The attacker, identified as a 15-year-old youth, has also been admitted to a local children's hospital in serious condition, the Baza telegram channel said.
Authorities in Ufa, the capital of the Bashkortostan Republic about 1,200 km east of Moscow, have launched a high-level probe into the incident.
The Baza channel claimed that the attacker belonged to a banned neo-Nazi outfit.
"He belonged to the banned NS/WP neoNazi organisation. During the frenzy of attack, he was shouting nationalist slogans about (the) Holocaust,” it said and shared the photo of a Swastika drawn on a wall with the blood of the victims.
According to eyewitnesses, “there was blood all around,” Ren TV said, showing footage of wounded being taken to hospital by ambulance vans.
