Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) is a non-governmental organisation based in the state of Uttarakhand, India, with an office located in Dehradun.
The organisation was established as a result of years of struggle against atrocities meted out to underprivileged and marginalised communities in the region.
In the late 1970s, a group of young people undertook development work amongst the tribal communities in the area of Jaunsar-Bawar in Dehradun district.
Many tribal communities in this region had been deprived of their legal and fundamental rights due to the prevalent systemic inequities and injustices.
RLEK has played a significant role in advocating for the rights of local communities and promoting sustainable development in the region.
8209, filed by RLEK, was the first public interest litigation in the country which involved issues related to environmental and ecological balance.
The final judgment [5] was given against the limestone contractors and industrialists on 30 August 1988 and ordered the closing down of the 101 mines in the valley.
The cement factories in Dehradun were causing high levels of toxic emissions due to their activities[when?].
RLEK fought in the court, advocating the rights of these people, which led to the passing of "Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act" in the year 1988.
In order to raise the living and health standards of twelve communities, RLEK worked with them under the Uttar Pradesh Rural Water Supply and Environment Sanitation.
Official sanction remains to be obtained for the community forest management plan (CFM), some parts of which have been implemented, aimed at increasing local control of natural resources.
RLEK is helping the Van Gujjars by organizing a milk cooperative SOPHIA in order to free them from the clutches of exploitative middlemen.
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India had delegated the establishment of JSS in Bageshwar to RLEK.
JSS provides technical knowledge and occupational skills to neo-literates of the region, especially to the socio-economically backward groups.