Title: Promoting the Right to Life and Dignified Death through Living Wills: Our Journey at Samvidhan Katta
We the students of Pro Bono Club at our university are passionate about social justice and legal empowerment. Recently, we i.e. Tatva Damania, Ritaja, Payoja Ostwal, Preeti Zalwar, Anurag Shelke, Rithika Sahni, Reyanshi Bansal, Navadha, Gauri, Alisha Jain, Vedant Mainkarhad the opportunity to an initiative under Samvidhan Katta that deeply resonated with us promoting the concept of Living Wills to ensure the right to life and a dignified death protected by Constitution of India.
It all began when our Pro Bono Club through a team of students decided to organize a seminar to discuss the importance and legal history of living wills. I vividly remember the day of the seminarseeing the curiosity and interest in the attendees' eyes as we delved into how living wills can protect an individual's rights and dignity at the end of life. The seminar was a significant success, and it became clear to us that we had touched on an issue of profound importance.
Motivated by the response, our team took the next step: visiting individuals to assist them in drafting, notarizing, registering, and submitting their living wills to government authorities. We recall the meticulous care we took in explaining each step to ensure their wishes were clearly documented. Due to the absence of a competent authority who could officially receive the wills, we submitted 30 living wills to the municipal commissioner. This was a crucial action, as it meant these documents would be honoured, safeguarding individuals' end-of-life choices.
One of the most impactful moments was conducting a training session on drafting living wills. Empowering others with the knowledge and tools to take control of their future healthcare decisions was incredibly rewarding. Watching participants gain confidence as they learned to draft their living wills was a testament to the power of education and legal awareness.
Understanding the need for systemic change, we launched a signature campaign demanding the appointment of a custodian for living wills. The overwhelming support, with over 800 signatories, was inspiring. It was a clear indication that our community recognized the importance of this cause.
Our advocacy didn't stop there. Faculty CoordinatorsDr. Anand Raut, and Dr. Garima Pal and Orsfiled a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Hon'ble Bombay High Court, requesting the appointment of custodians, registered medical practitioners, and the digitization of living will records. This legal action was a pivotal moment in our campaign.
The efforts of our Pro Bono Club bore fruit when the State of Maharashtra appointed 417 custodians across the state. This achievement was a monumental milestone, ensuring that living wills would be submitted as required by law and respected. Knowing that our hard work had led to tangible, positive change was immensely fulfilling.
Reflecting on this journey, we are reminded of the power of legal advocacy and community engagement. Through seminars, hands-on assistance, training sessions, and legal action, we made a significant impact on the recognition and implementation of living wills. This experience underscored the importance of ensuring a dignified death and the critical role that law students and professionals can play in advocating for social justice and legal reform.
In conclusion, this initiative has solidified my commitment to using my legal knowledge to support and uplift marginalized communities. By empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their end-of-life care, we contribute to creating a more just and compassionate society. The journey with the Pro Bono Club has shown me that collective efforts can bring about meaningful change and uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of every individual as enshrined in Preamble of Constitution of India and protected by Hon'ble Courts in India.
Title: Promoting the Right to Life and Dignified Death through Living Wills: Our Journey at Samvidhan Katta
We the students of Pro Bono Club at our university are passionate about social justice and legal empowerment. Recently, we i.e. Tatva Damania, Ritaja, Payoja Ostwal, Preeti Zalwar, Anurag Shelke, Rithika Sahni, Reyanshi Bansal, Navadha, Gauri, Alisha Jain, Vedant Mainkarhad the opportunity to an initiative under Samvidhan Katta that deeply resonated with us promoting the concept of Living Wills to ensure the right to life and a dignified death protected by Constitution of India.
It all began when our Pro Bono Club through a team of students decided to organize a seminar to discuss the importance and legal history of living wills. I vividly remember the day of the seminarseeing the curiosity and interest in the attendees' eyes as we delved into how living wills can protect an individual's rights and dignity at the end of life. The seminar was a significant success, and it became clear to us that we had touched on an issue of profound importance.
Motivated by the response, our team took the next step: visiting individuals to assist them in drafting, notarizing, registering, and submitting their living wills to government authorities. We recall the meticulous care we took in explaining each step to ensure their wishes were clearly documented. Due to the absence of a competent authority who could officially receive the wills, we submitted 30 living wills to the municipal commissioner. This was a crucial action, as it meant these documents would be honoured, safeguarding individuals' end-of-life choices.
One of the most impactful moments was conducting a training session on drafting living wills. Empowering others with the knowledge and tools to take control of their future healthcare decisions was incredibly rewarding. Watching participants gain confidence as they learned to draft their living wills was a testament to the power of education and legal awareness.
Understanding the need for systemic change, we launched a signature campaign demanding the appointment of a custodian for living wills. The overwhelming support, with over 800 signatories, was inspiring. It was a clear indication that our community recognized the importance of this cause.
Our advocacy didn't stop there. Faculty CoordinatorsDr. Anand Raut, and Dr. Garima Pal and Orsfiled a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Hon'ble Bombay High Court, requesting the appointment of custodians, registered medical practitioners, and the digitization of living will records. This legal action was a pivotal moment in our campaign.
The efforts of our Pro Bono Club bore fruit when the State of Maharashtra appointed 417 custodians across the state. This achievement was a monumental milestone, ensuring that living wills would be submitted as required by law and respected. Knowing that our hard work had led to tangible, positive change was immensely fulfilling.
Reflecting on this journey, we are reminded of the power of legal advocacy and community engagement. Through seminars, hands-on assistance, training sessions, and legal action, we made a significant impact on the recognition and implementation of living wills. This experience underscored the importance of ensuring a dignified death and the critical role that law students and professionals can play in advocating for social justice and legal reform.
In conclusion, this initiative has solidified my commitment to using my legal knowledge to support and uplift marginalized communities. By empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their end-of-life care, we contribute to creating a more just and compassionate society. The journey with the Pro Bono Club has shown me that collective efforts can bring about meaningful change and uphold the fundamental rights and dignity of every individual as enshrined in Preamble of Constitution of India and protected by Hon'ble Courts in India.
