FY2015-2016
Nyaya Bharti begins providing legal and financial assistance to underprivileged undertrials
Facilitates the release of eight undertrials on bail from jails in Delhi-NCR
New Delhi, May 23, 2016: Nyaya Bharti, a first of its kind corporate initiative by Bharti Enterprises to provide legal assistance & aid and awareness / literacy to underprivileged undertrials across the country, today said that it has facilitated the release of eight deserving undertrials on bail from jails in Delhi –NCR.
As part of its commitment, the lawyers from Nyaya Bharti have provided legal aid, filed bail applications and also represented the undertrials in various Delhi Courts.
Nyaya Bharti, was launched in November 2015 under the aegis of Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises. It began full operations, to assist underprivileged under trials charged with minor offences, in April 2016. In very deserving cases, Nyaya Bharti helps undertrials by paying the bail and surety amounts. The initiative is solely focused on District Courts where criminal cases are initiated.
The initiative is funded by Bharti Airtel with an annual grant of Rs.10 Crore on an ongoing basis and a voluntary contribution of Rs. 5 Crore from Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises.
Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-Chairman, Bharti Foundation, said, “With the release of the first set of underprivileged undertrials, we have made a beginning towards reaching out to and assisting the under trials who are languishing in jails for minor offences. We are fully committed to expanding the scope of the initiative and have been overwhelmed by the support this initiative has received from individuals and institutions from across the country.”
Nyaya Bharti is governed by a separate Governing Board consisting of eminent persons led by Justice A.S. Anand (Retired Chief Justice of India) to provide oversight and guidance to the initiative. A panel of young public spirited lawyers are providing pro-bono legal, administrative and governance support to the initiative.
The initiative, currently focused on Delhi NCR, aims to expand its presence gradually to cover the entire North India through smaller regional offices. It will seek partnerships with likeminded corporates to have similar initiatives in other parts of the country.
Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, is already running over 250 village primary schools under its Satya Bharti School program and providing free quality education to over 50,000 children across six states. Additionally, under its Satya Bharti Abhiyan, the Foundation has committed upto Rs 100 cr to construct household toilets in rural areas of Ludhiana District in Punjab. Over 13,700 toilets in 600-plus villages have already been constructed and handed over to the beneficiaries as part of this initiative.
