Agro Tech and Community Mela

Date: 11th April 2025

Venue: Sant Baba Bhag Singh University

Introduction

The Agro Tech and Community Mela was a grand celebration of innovation, academic excellence, and community welfare. It brought together students, farmers, professionals, and local community members in a vibrant setting. The event featured 35 unique stalls set up by different institutes affiliated with the university, showcasing diverse themes from agriculture to health, law, and technology.

Participation and Stall Setup

The university’s constituent institutes actively participated with informative, interactive, and engaging exhibits. Themes included modern farming practices, environmental sustainability, health awareness, and legal empowerment. Interactive sessions, live demonstrations, and hands-on experiences made the Mela both educational and enjoyable.

Legal Aid Clinic: A Step towards Legal Empowerment

One of the highlights was the Legal Aid Clinic by the University Institute of Law (UIL), under the leadership of Dr. Pooja Bali (Dean, UIL) and coordinated by Ms. Manjot Kaur (Assistant Professor). The clinic offered free legal advice and raised awareness about legal rights and remedies.

The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between legal knowledge and community needs, especially for rural and under-resourced individuals unfamiliar with their rights or legal processes.

Engagement with the Community

The stall saw active engagement from students, villagers, farmers, workers, and business owners. Legal queries included property disputes, matrimonial issues, domestic violence, labor rights, contracts, consumer protection, and government schemes.

UIL law students, under faculty supervision, interacted with visitors, addressed queries, and offered guidance. Complex cases were referred to official legal aid bodies or UIL’s Legal Aid Cell.

Informational brochures, posters, and pamphlets helped visitors understand key legal topics like FIR filing, women and child rights, and police or court procedures—even those with limited literacy benefited.

Awareness Sessions and Activities

Mini-awareness sessions were held on topics such as:

• Rights of Women in Marriage and Domestic Relationships
• Legal Remedies for Land Disputes and Encroachments

Interactive discussions, quizzes, legal literacy games, giveaways, and certificates of participation made the sessions engaging and informative—especially for younger visitors.

Contribution of Faculty and Students

Dr. Pooja Bali's vision turned into a practical initiative through the Legal Aid Clinic. Ms. Manjot Kaur and Mr. Girija Nand efficiently coordinated the entire setup and student participation.

Law students gained valuable real-world experience in dealing with public legal queries, thereby enhancing their skills and reinforcing their social responsibilities as future legal professionals.

Impact and Feedback

The Legal Aid Clinic received appreciation from university administration and the local community. Many visitors experienced legal consultation for the first time in an approachable setting. Faculty from other departments praised the effort and recommended more frequent outreach programs.

Conclusion

The Agro Tech and Community Mela was a huge success, showcasing academic and community engagement. The UIL’s Legal Aid Clinic stood out as a shining example of education in service to society, promoting legal empowerment and awareness.

The event underscored the university’s commitment to societal welfare, inclusive development, and legal literacy—setting a strong precedent for future outreach activities.