Internship Experience @ Rural Litigation Entitlement Kendra

Name of Law Student, Year of Study

Anonymous

Name of College

Law College Dehradun, Uttaranchal University

Name of the organization

Rural Litigation Entitlement Kendra

Address

68/1, RLEK building, Suryalok Colony, Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand – 248001

Duration of internship

One month internship from 1^st July to 1^st August 2016

About the organization

It is a Non-Governmental Organization working for the cause of underdeveloped and underprivileged sections of the society. It works with the aim to “include the excluded and reach the unreached”. It works in the field of public interest litigation and betterment of the ignored sections of the society. It has fought in public interest for various environmental issues and socio-legal issues. The landmark DOON VALLEY CASE of illegal limestone quarrying and hazards to the environment was brought before the Supreme Court by RLEK only which subsequently led to the enactment of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It was the first case before the Supreme Court relating to environmental issues. It has played a crucial role in the enactment of other legislations like Bonded Labour Abolition Act, 1976 and Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 19686.

How big was the office? Team Strength?

The Organization has its own building over a huge space in the Rajpur Road of Doon Valley. It is a double story building with a huge terrace which offers a spectacular view of Mussoorie Hill Station. It has a spacious premise with different sections operating within the NGO. It has team strength of about15-20 permanent members who work from office apart from the volunteers who do field work.

Application procedure? Internship contact details

The application procedure is simple. One can apply by sending C.V. to their official email id: rlek.org@gmail.com. Bonafide certificate from respective college/university is a must.

Accommodation: how, where, how was it?

Interns from colleges outside Dehradun can avail the facility of the hostel of the NGO itself with a fixed minimum amount. It has separate dormitories for boys and girls. It has its own Mess where the interns can eat meals.

First impression, the first day, the formalities etc.

The first day was an unusual day full of nervousness, curiosity, and excitement. The interns of the summer batch 2016 had to join on the first day of July. They had to report at around 10 AM and had to go through the documents procedure at the office. Students from different colleges and from different cities had come. The first day ended up with introduction sessions and interactions among interns and the team. There was no such task in particular for the first day.

Main tasks

The initial days were very tiring with long hours of sitting at the same place. The interns were given handbooks of leading cases fought by the NGO and of its scope of work. Later many workshop sessions were conducted throughout the month with different issues. Several field trips were also organized for the interns for acquainting them with the knowledge of the social issues raised by the NGO and how a right move in the same direction can help the society. The students were required to make presentations also.

Work environment

The work environment was friendly. Luckily the then batch was so interactive and cooperative that it made the long internship hours enjoyable and interesting. The team was helpful.

Best things

The food there is awesome and won’t let you miss home cooked one. There is an hour time for lunch and two tea breaks; one in the morning and one in the evening.

Bad things

There was nothing bad other than the initial days of sitting idle for hours.

What did you do to chill?

The best part was that the NGO was at a distance of about half an hour from Mussorie and Sahastradhara so the interns could go there anytime. And of course, the Doon Valley has many other places to chill around and explore nature. One can experience leisure and luxury in nature in this beautiful city.

Stipend/Month

There was no stipend.

Biggest lessons

The biggest lesson I got while interning at RLEK is that you have to be at the grassroots level to experience the real aspects of life and that how difficult, life is for many people while it is favorable to others. Secondly, that friendship is unexpected and beyond distance and boundaries. Enduring and long lasting bond of friendship can be established even within a short span of time.