The IDIA project (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to legal Education) conceptualised by Prof. Shamnad Basheer, has reaped the fruits of its labour within the very first year of its operations. In the first CLAT allotment list released today, at least eleven out of the fifty candidates coached by IDIA have secured admissions in top law schools in the country. A twenty-two percent success rate is uncommon even among the best-known coaching institutes in the country which coach students coming from much more privileged backgrounds. 50 students were selected from all over India and were coached at various centers in India. 11 out of these students have made it to the CLAT administered law schools.

Shivendu Pandey from Uttar Pradesh is the top performing IDIA scholar. He has secured the 45^th rank in the general category (45 out of 23,000 candidates who appared for CLAT exam), which will guarantee him admission to the National Law School, Bangalore.  Shivendu lost his father many years back and his mother is an LIC agent earning a mere 13,000 a month. Shivendu was trained by Prateek Mohapatra, a student of RMLNLU, Lucknow and head of IDIA chapter in Lucknow.

In the Scheduled Castes category, two IDIA scholars made it to the top national law schools (a) Mukesh Kumar Kori, the son of a pensioned defence employee secured the 13^th Rank in the SC list, which entitles him to a seat in NALSAR, Hyderabad which currently ranks as amongst the top 3 law schools in India. (b) Kartika Annamalai secured the 55^th rank in the SC list, and has been allotted WB NUJS, Kolkata. Kartika’s mother is a stone quarry worker from Karnataka and Kartika studied at Shanti Bhavan, a school for underprivileged children. Kartika was trained by Adithya Banavar and his team from NLS, Bangalore.

In the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, Johnson Subba from a government school in Pelling, a remote location in Sikkim, secured admission in NLU Orissa.  His father is a government clerk and he was trained by a team led by Diptoshree Basu, a student of WB NUJS.

In the ‘Persons with Disability’ Category, the IDIA effort paid off immensely with all 5 visually challenged IDIA scholars that we challenged this year securing admission at the various NLU’s. Bhimavarapu Mouli Aravind (All India PWD Rank 10) was allotted to NUJS in first CLAT list released today. Also Goram Sivasankar (PWD Rank 12) was allotted to GNLU, and Bandi Sudhakar (PWD Rank 20) was allotted to GNLU. Further Arepalli Naga Babu (PWD Rank 25, NLU Orissa PWD Rank 4) was allotted to RMNLU, Lucknow and NLU Orissa. Lastly Tudumu Andalu (SC PWD Rank 1) was allotted to NLU Jodhpur. All of them are from extremely poor backgrounds and most of their families earn their living through farming and subsistence wages. They were trained by a team led by Anusha Reddy and Vaishnavi, students of WB NUJS.

Other IDIA scholars who made it made it under the general category and include; Shivam Bhardwaj (General Category Rank 129, NLU Delhi 35) allotted to WB NUJS, Kolkata and Arindam Bhattacharjee (General Category Rank 353) allotted to HNLU, Raipur.

In addition to these scholars whose entry into premier law schools is assured, IDIA is also hopeful about a few other candidates whose ranks fall sufficiently close to the cut-offs and are now on the waiting lists. All the IDIA scholars were imparted coaching by IMS Learning Resources, which is a partner organisation of IDIA.

While these results in the first year are heartening, IDIA recognizes that this is not the time to rest on laurels. The day after this year’s CLAT results were declared, a team of IDIA volunteers consisting of Telma Raju and Shinsa PM were already conducting an awareness session in Government Higher Secondary (Tribal) School, Kattappana, a remote location in Kerala. 

What also distinguishes IDIA from other education access programs is that the study of law is intrinsically suited towards creating community leaders. For one learns the skills of advocacy and rhetoric and ends up being a good spokesperson for the community. In short, their dream is to convert their scholars to world class advocates and leaders.

IDIA Needs Help!

Eleven IDIA scholars who made it to law schools now need funds for their education. Some law schools have scholarship policies and have agreed to offer it to IDIA scholars who match with their criteria. For some others, IDIA will help them with bank loans. However these scholarships may not be enough to cover all their expenses. In particular, their living expenses will have to be taken care of. Bank loans require collaterals. IDIA would therefore urge all donors to come forward and institute scholarships at law schools for these underprivileged children. IDIA would also urge those interested (from the legal profession or otherwise) to come forward and pick one of these scholars to mentor personally so as to permit them to blossom to their full potential whilst in law school.

Contact:

For any questions or clarifications, please contact Professor Basheer at 9831512975. Or email at shamnad@gmail.com. IDIA website is at <www.idialaw.com>