As part of the preliminary step of Soharthm Project and its implementation in Kerala State, the village level orientation and training programme was organized by Legal Assistance Forum, Kerala Chapter in Kumbalam panchayat of Ernakulam district on 9th February 2007 at Panchayat hall,Panangad.The meeting was well attended by panchayat members, village level leaders, retired Government servants, representatives of various social organizations and members of Kudumbashree project and Advocates.

Advocate K L Varghese, President, LAF, Kerala chapter, explained about the activities of LAF and Soharthm in his keynote address.

This was followed by “Mock Mediation in disputes”. The resource team comprising of Advocates Sreelal Warrier, Unnikrishnan, K Latha and Jeena, presented a Case Study for awareness creation and practice among the leaders and panchayat members.

Shri. C K Padmanabhan panchayat president, Kumbalam also joined the programme and appreciated everybody and has offered further co-operation in all programmes of Soharthm.

All those who spoke in the occasion were of uniform opinion that Mediation is an instrument and the better solution for settlement of disputes and it will maintain harmony between two persons, families and members of society at large without entering into any type of argument or quarrel between them. Everybody expressed gratitude on behalf of panchayat samithi to LAF for selecting kumbalam village firstly for doing the project Soharthm.