Even after witnessing extreme poverty, menace of child marriage, gender discrimination, Basanti Gope’s determination to curb social evils in society never deterred.
Basanti, who recently bagged the prestigious honour of being the country’s Best Para legal Volunteer (PlV) has fought several odds with a vision that she would not let others go through what she has witnessed in life.
Her worst childhood memory in which she saw dogs running around with human legs in their mouths is yet to be washed out. Basanti who hails from Chaibasa district was recently felicitated by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and Union law Minister Ravishankar Prasad for her commendable work of making free legal aid accessible for the poor people in one of the remotest areas of Jharkhand.
She discusses about her life, goal and mission with The Pioneer at a function organized by Jharkhand State legal Services Authority (JHAlSA) on Monday where she was felicitated by Acting Chief Justice D N Patel. Ranchi Judicial Commissioner –cum-Ranchi District legal Services Authority (DlSA) Navneet Kumar was also felicitated for bagging the Best DlSA award in eastern India. Excerpts:
You are merely a matriculate; even then you have been able to contribute to the society in a much bigger way. How does it feelIJ
To bring social change, more than any academic record, your will power is important. If as an individual you are able to encourage at least a single person, then, according to me, you are a crusader. As much as I have observed life, hailing from a small hamlet and fighting odds like witch-hunting practices which is rampant in a State like Jharkhand requires fortitude, more than anything else.
Before becoming a Para legal Volunteer, were you aware about this programmeIJ
I am active since 1995 on various social fronts. During my early days while dealing with different problems associated with several government schemes, I got basic knowledge of law. Now, with the help of District legal Services Authority (DlSA) personnel of Chaibasa, I am scaling up my knowledge.
Tell us about some constraints you often face as a Para legal Volunteer while working in the interior areasIJ
The list is endless. However, as a person, I was quite nervous when I was conducting an awareness drive at Saranda Forest way back. By far, I have cremated more than 2000 unclaimed dead bodies following all legal procedures. I have been successful in admitting more than 50 mentally challenged patients at Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS). With time, all my fears have vanished.
What keeps you motivated even at the age of 50IJ
After the incident that made me realize the importance of ‘dignity’ that every human being deserves, even after death including the vicious cycle of superstition, poverty, addiction, I have become more determined to carry forward my work. My childhood days could be described as unusual. However, when you work at the grass root level, you will realize that your pain is nothing. Forget about my work, I have asked my daughters Pooja Gope and Suman Gope to work for the betterment of this society. They too are working as Para legal Volunteers. As long as I survive, I will work for society.