NOIDA: “More than 76% of the Indian large population is below the poverty line. Despite the rise of per capita income there exists vast economic and social inequality. India’s dense population is one of the greatest challenges on its way to progress and development.
However this dire situation can be overcome if coercive efforts are put in by the public and private sector to bridge the gap between the affluent and marginalized of our society.
Even the private sector needs to engage itself in more social business and a company law should be introduced for the corporates to adopt rural villages a part of CSR.” said Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs during the release of the book “Law Poverty and Development” authored by Maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar, Director, Amity Law School, Noida and Advocate Mr. Kush Chaturvedi at Amity University Campus, Sector -125 Noida.
Dr. Moily further added that the population rise in India can become the demographic dividend in another thirty years and the population can be converted to the asset of the country. “Poverty should not be taken for granted in India and per capita income of any country should be judged with the way it handles its poverty” averred Dr. Moily.
Delivering the key note address during the book release function Justice Mr. K.S Radhakrishnan, Judge Supreme Court of India said “The constitution of India is one of the best Constitutions in the world as it has numerous provisions to safeguard the interest of the weaker section and minorities in the forms of various National Commissions.
However the challenge lies in effectively implementing all of them and the optimum implementation of these provisions is the key to holistic progress of the country. Therefore every citizen should engage in contributing to social equality in whatever way possible in order to sew the thread of equality and fairness in the Indian Social fabric.
He averred that social service should be made compulsory for the youth to serve the poor and Socio Economic Legislations like Right to Food and Right to Shelter should be introduced to elevate the living conditions of the marginalized.
Wishing great success to “Law Poverty and Development” and hoping that it will ignite a flaming sense of responsibility in India’s legal system to eradicate the chronic problem of poverty from the country Dr. Ashok K Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Group said “In a world, where poverty and marginalization of vulnerable groups are on rise, it is necessary to stress on the particular importance of the right to development”.
While sharing with the audience the concept and objective of the book Maj. Gen. Nilendra Kumar informed that Law, Poverty and Development is one of the subject papers prescribed by Bar Council of India for the LL.B syllabus in Bar Council of India rules and this book is a wholesome effort to discuss the law relating to poverty, which have been covered in four distinct modules of Understanding poverty and development, Constitutional guarantee for the poor, Criminal justice system and the poor and Impoverishment of women, children and disabled persons. He further said “the subject of income distribution is not any separate from the functioning of Law and Order.
Poverty is a problem of international human rights law. Therefore, poverty under International Human Rights Law can be seen as violation of civil, political, economic, cultural and social rights, which requires a legal commitment from each of the responsible actors and entitles the poor people as the right holders to pursue their rights.”
Also present during the book release function were the Mr. Kush Chaturvedi, Co Author of “Law Poverty and Development”, Dr. Manish Arora, Director, Universal Law Publishing Co, HOIs, faculty and students from various institutions of Amity along with other distinguished guests.
The release of the book was followed by the felicitation of the esteemed guests by Dr. Ashok K Chauhan.
The other books authored by Maj. Gen Nilendra Kumar Singh include ‘Military Law Lexicon’, ‘Military Law Handbook for Commanders’, ‘The Armed Forces Tribunal Law’, ‘Law relating to The Armed Forces’,’ Courts Martial Under Scrutiny’,’ Disability Benefits in the Armed Forces’,’ Case Studies on Military Law’,’ Military Law then, now and beyond’, ‘Nani Palkhivala – A Role Model’, ‘A to Z of Law for Management Students’ and ‘Courts Martial and Military Matters’.
About the Author:
“Major General Nilendra Kumar was the Judge Advocate General of India Army From Sep 2001 to Nov 2008 and is presently Director Amity Law School at Amity University, Noida. Born in Lucknow on 2 Nov 1949, he is a product of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy. He holds a law degree and Diploma in Public Administration from Lucknow University and is alumnus of Jamuna Lal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai. He was commissioned in the Regiment of Artillery in 1969 and took part in 1971 war on the Western Sector.
He was seconded to the JAG Department in 1982 and has conducted a number of courts martial as Judge Advocate. He monitored litigation on behalf of the Army in High Courts of the Southern States during 1986-87. He had been staff Judge Advocate at various corps and command headquarters.
He participated in law seminar organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva (1998), Attended the meetings of Experts on Direct Participation of Civilians in Hostilities (2003 and 2004). Presented papers at the annual MILOPS conference organised by US Pacific Command for three years.
He has authored / edited eleven books on military law and other subjects. He undertook concrete steps for dissemination of Human Rights among the Armed Forces personnel. He was invited to speak at the Indian Institute of Mass Communications, Faculty of Management Studies, National Defence College, Indian Institute of Public Adminstration, Supreme Courts Bar Associations, United Service Institution of India, Defence Services Staff College, many Universities in India, Oxford University and University of South Carolina. He had presented a paper on “Legal Implications of UN Peace Keeping Operations” on 30 Jul 2002 at a seminar organized by the USI together with MEA / UNP at New Delhi.
He has presented papers at the law seminars / lectures at Geneva, Bangkok, New Port (RI), Victoria (Canada), Oxford and University of South Carolina.
He was a member of the Indian delegation to the UN on the open – ended working session on steps to eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, New York, Jan – Feb 2005 and the UN meeting on Explosive Remanents of War.
He was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal in Jan 2004 and Ati Vishisht Seva Mendal in Jan 2005 for rendering distinguished service of a high order.
He is a member of Supreme Court Bar Association and Indian Councils of Arbitration.Presently, he is Director of Amity Law School under Amity University, Noida.
His wife Rekha works for socio-economic issues concerning ex-servicemen and families.