The National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, Jharkhand, has achieved a remarkable international milestone. The university's Community Legal Aid and Awareness Programme Centre (CLAP) secured second place in the prestigious 'MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship 2025,' outperforming 400 universities from 92 countries worldwide. This recognition is a significant achievement not only for the university but also for the state and the nation.
What is CLAP and its Role?
CLAP (Community Legal Aid and Awareness Programme) is a social justice-focused legal aid center at NUSRL. Its aim is to extend legal information, assistance, and awareness of rights to rural and marginalized communities. The center is student-run, with students visiting villages to educate people about their legal rights, government schemes, and the judicial process.
CLAP's unique approach involves not only providing legal information but also offering pre-litigation advice, grievance redressal, and conducting women's empowerment workshops at the grassroots level.
What is the MacJannet Prize?
The 'MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship' is a prestigious international award recognizing student organizations in universities worldwide that excel in community service, global citizenship, community engagement, and human rights awareness. The prize is jointly awarded by Tufts University (USA) and the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities.
Selection Process
This year's award saw participation from 400 university organizations across 92 countries. The selection process involved a multi-stage review, evaluating effectiveness, social impact, innovation, and sustainability. NUSRL's CLAP center was selected for the second position, marking one of India's most significant achievements to date in this field.
CLAP also received a prize amount of $5,000 (approximately ₹4.2 lakh), which will be used to expand the center's operations and launch new legal aid initiatives.
Vice-Chancellor and Team's Response
NUSRL's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Patel, expressed pride in this achievement, stating that CLAP's work for villagers and marginalized communities has received international recognition. He attributed this success to the students' hard work, commitment, and sensitivity. LLM student and CLAP team leader, Bhavana Tiwari, emphasized their commitment to reaching every member of society with legal knowledge, stating that this award increases their sense of responsibility.
CLAP's Key Achievements
- Conducted over 80 legal awareness camps in 12 villages across Jharkhand
- Intervention on issues such as women's rights, child marriage, domestic violence, and MNREGA
- Prisoner assistance camps and bail counseling in jails
- Child rights awareness campaigns in schools
With this international recognition, CLAP plans to expand its reach to more villages. Future plans include establishing a digital legal helpline, mobile legal clinics, and special campaigns focused on transgender rights.
