PLNF: Policy & Law Network

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On 9–10 April, we organised a Learning and Institutional Exposure Visit to Nagpur for 20 students from Gadchiroli and Ch...
20/04/2026

On 9–10 April, we organised a Learning and Institutional Exposure Visit to Nagpur for 20 students from Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, primarily from Adivasi and other historically marginalised communities.

The aim was simple yet structural—to expand the horizon of what is imaginable. For many, access to institutions is not just limited physically, but shaped and curtailed by systemic barriers. This initiative sought to bridge that gap by enabling direct engagement with spaces of law, education, and governance.

A particularly significant moment was the interaction with Hon’ble Justice Anil Kilor at the Bombay High Court Nagpur Bench, who generously spent time answering students’ questions—an experience that remains rare and deeply meaningful.

The visit was engaging, reflective, and a reminder that access and exposure are critical to shaping aspirations.

We will continue working closely with these students.

Grateful to the Legal Aid Committee, Maharashtra National Law University Nagpur for their support.

Policy & Law Network, in collaboration with social work institutions, brings a Two-Day Online Writing Skills Workshop fo...
01/04/2026

Policy & Law Network, in collaboration with social work institutions, brings a Two-Day Online Writing Skills Workshop focused on strengthening academic writing within social work education.

Writing is not just an academic requirement—it is a tool to articulate lived realities, build arguments, and advance social justice.

Join us as we engage with practitioners and scholars to rethink writing as practice, voice, and responsibility.

📅 02 & 03 April 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
💻 Online (DM for the link)

Day 2 | Mendha (Lekha), GadchiroliDay 2 was more interactive and action-oriented—bringing together discussions, activiti...
29/03/2026

Day 2 | Mendha (Lekha), Gadchiroli

Day 2 was more interactive and action-oriented—bringing together discussions, activities, and practical legal learning, with both students and community activists actively participating in the process.

Beginning with a structural lens, Dr. Kailas Vasave spoke on historical marginalisation of Adivasis, emphasising pathways for justice rooted in rights and autonomy. Building on governance and lived examples, Adv. Vijay Dethe highlighted forest rights and the role of Gram Sabhas, sharing the journey of Pachgaon (Chandrapur) as a model of asserting rights towards a more sustainable village, while Adv. Rajni Soren spoke on constitutional rights and safeguards.

Taking the conversation towards systems and access, Adv. Sonali Meshram explained FIRs, police procedure, and court processes, focusing on how legal awareness can help communities navigate the system. Moving from discussion to action, Adv. Bodhi Ramteke & Adv. Deepak Chatap led an activity-based session where participants engaged in drafting RTI applications and PILs, learning how to convert real issues into legal interventions.

Shifting to narrative and resistance, Prabhu Rajgadkar spoke on writing as a political act, stressing that Adivasi communities must document their own realities while being cautious of external representation.

The day also marked a moment of recognition with the felicitation of Naresh Kando, Up-Sarpanch of Vengnur village (Gadchiroli), and Adv. Priya Tadam, who completed her Master’s from the University of Bristol (UK) through a state government scholarship for Adivasi students.

Students also visited the village, engaging directly with the community and understanding grassroots realities beyond classroom discussions.

Overall, Day 2 reflected a shift from understanding structures to actively using law as a tool for justice.

PolicyAndLawNetwork MNLUNagpur

Day 1, 20th March | Mendha (Lekha), GadchiroliThe residential workshop commenced with registration, followed by a series...
28/03/2026

Day 1, 20th March | Mendha (Lekha), Gadchiroli

The residential workshop commenced with registration, followed by a series of deeply engaging sessions rooted in lived realities of Adivasi communities.

Dr. Santosh Suradkar (Gondwana University) initiated the discussions on structural inequalities in Adivasi education, unpacking systemic exclusion and policy failures.

Dr. Dilip V. Chavan (SRTMU, Nanded) reflected on Adivasi language, identity, and the politics of existence, foregrounding questions of culture and resistance.

Dr. Devaji Tofa from Mendha (Lekha) grounded the conversations in Adivasi self-governance and autonomy, drawing from the village’s lived experience.

Students actively engaged through questions, reflections, and discussions—interrogating their own legal training and its limitations. Many began to recognise the gap between constitutional promises and ground realities, and to understand how law operates differently when viewed from the margins. The sessions pushed them to rethink ideas of rights, and justice—not as abstract principles, but as lived struggles shaped by history, geography, and power.

The day created a space where academic discourse met community knowledge—challenging, questioning, and rethinking law beyond classrooms.

30 law students. 30 grassroots activists.Coming together not just to learn the law, but to question it, use it, and tran...
20/03/2026

30 law students. 30 grassroots activists.
Coming together not just to learn the law, but to question it, use it, and transform it.

📍 Mendha Lekha, Gadchiroli

Many hands. Many voices. One message.On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we invited women to leave their handp...
10/03/2026

Many hands. Many voices. One message.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we invited women to leave their handprints on a canvas—each palm carrying a word, a hope, or a value: liberty, courage, dignity, fearless, equality.

What started as colours on a canvas slowly became a collective statement of presence and power. Every handprint represents a woman’s voice, her experiences, and her right to be seen and heard.

Through this simple activity, the canvas transformed into a reminder that when women stand together, their voices create a movement.

✋🏽 Each handprint tells a story.
✊🏽 Together, they shape a future of equality.

Concept and activity coordinated by Adv. Karishma Shirsat and Prof. Apeksha Kamble.

Glimpses from the Free Legal Aid Desk at Nagpur.As part of the Women’s Day celebration organised yesterday in collaborat...
09/03/2026

Glimpses from the Free Legal Aid Desk at Nagpur.

As part of the Women’s Day celebration organised yesterday in collaboration with BANAE, Nagpur, a Free Legal Aid Desk was set up to provide accessible legal guidance and support to individuals seeking assistance on various legal issues.

The Legal Aid Desk was inaugurated by Dr. Deesha Khaire, Associate Professor, National Law University, Nagpur, who encouraged initiatives that bring legal awareness and support closer to communities, in the presence of Adv. Bodhi Ramteke, Director of Policy & Law Network Foundation (PLNF), and Prof. Apeksha Kamble.

The desk was facilitated by Adv. Shwetal Wahane, Adv. Rushikesh Bhoyar, and Adv. Karishma Sirsath, who interacted with participants and provided legal consultations during the programme.

Such initiatives reflect a collective commitment to strengthening access to justice and promoting legal awareness, particularly for those who may not otherwise have easy access to legal support.

Through these efforts, Policy & Law Network Foundation (PLNF) continues to work towards making legal aid more accessible and building stronger connections between legal institutions and the community.

SocialJustice

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Policy & Law Network (PLNF), in collaboration with the Dr. Babasaheb Ambed...
08/03/2026

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Policy & Law Network (PLNF), in collaboration with the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar National Association of Engineers (BANAE), organised a Free Legal Aid Camp in Nagpur.

Access to justice is a fundamental right. Through this initiative, we aimed to support women and community members by providing legal guidance, awareness about their rights, and assistance in addressing their legal concerns.

We remain committed to strengthening legal awareness, dignity, and access to justice for all.

📍 BANAE Hall, Nagpur
📅 8 March 2026

Nagpur SocialJustice

Policy & Law Network Foundation wishes everyone a Happy International Women’s Day. 🌸Celebrating the strength and contrib...
08/03/2026

Policy & Law Network Foundation wishes everyone a Happy International Women’s Day. 🌸

Celebrating the strength and contributions of women everywhere.

Access to public transport is not merely a convenience — it is a question of dignity, mobility, and justice.Through its ...
06/03/2026

Access to public transport is not merely a convenience — it is a question of dignity, mobility, and justice.

Through its advocacy efforts, Policy & Law Network (PLN) has supported road connectivity in more than five villages in Gadchiroli. However, continued engagement with Adivasi communities revealed a deeper challenge: despite having proper roads, many villages still lack regular bus services. As a result, residents are often forced to walk long distances to access healthcare, education, markets, and essential government services.

Recognising this gap, PLN, through its team including Sanchali Gaikwad, and under the legal guidance of Adv. Bodhi Ramteke and Adv. Deepak Chatap, supported the community-led advocacy initiated by the villagers. Along with Naresh Kando and other residents, a complaint-cum-representation was submitted to the officials of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and the CEO, Zilla Parishad, Gadchiroli, demanding the introduction of regular bus services.

PLN is now assisting the community in obtaining Gram Sabha resolutions, a letter from the road contractor, and the final approval from the CEO, Zilla Parishad, which are necessary for the formal approval of bus services.

We remain committed to supporting the community at every step until regular bus services reach these villages.

Mobility is justice. No village should remain isolated.

CommunityAdvocacy PolicyAndLawNetwork

On 20 February 2026, our team member Sanchali Gaikwad submitted a detailed representation to the Maharashtra State Commi...
25/02/2026

On 20 February 2026, our team member Sanchali Gaikwad submitted a detailed representation to the Maharashtra State Commission for Women on behalf of Policy and Law Network, demanding a Dedicated and Retrospective Compensation Scheme for Adivasi women affected by maternal deaths and healthcare failures in Maharashtra.

For years, Adivasi women in regions like Gadchiroli and other remote tribal areas have been forced to walk kilometres through forests, cross canals in unsafe conditions, and travel without basic medical support—simply because functional healthcare facilities, doctors, transport, and all-weather roads are missing. In many cases, women and their newborns have lost their lives. In others, they have been subjected to inhuman and degrading conditions during childbirth.

These are not isolated incidents. They reflect a systemic and structural failure of the public health system in tribal and remote areas. Yet, in most such cases, families receive no compensation, no acknowledgment of responsibility, and no justice. Their suffering remains invisible within the system.

Our demand is clear:
➡️ Maharashtra must frame a rights-based compensation scheme for Adivasi women who have suffered serious harm or death due to healthcare failures.
➡️ This scheme must be retrospective, so that families who have been waiting for justice for years are not excluded.
➡️ The State must also take systemic corrective measures to ensure that such tragedies do not continue.

Maternal deaths due to institutional neglect are not just administrative lapses—they are violations of the constitutional rights to life, dignity, health, and equality under Articles 14 and 21. A welfare State cannot allow Adivasi women to keep paying for State failure with their bodies and their lives.



This is a step towards accountability, dignity, and justice. The lives of Adivasi women cannot remain invisible.

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