Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 8: The District Legal Services Authority, A&N Islands, in association with the International Human Rights & Crime Control Organisation (IHRCCO), organized a Legal Awareness Programme yesterday at Community Hall, Chouldari on the topic ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, POCSO Act and Drug Abuse.’
The programme was graced by the presence of Shri Samrat Roy, Ld. Chief Judicial Magistrate, South Andaman-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, A&N Islands, along with Shri Jayanta Mukherjee, Ld. Judicial Magistrate First Class, 2nd Court, Port Blair & Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, South Andaman. Smt. Saraswati Narayan, National General Secretary & State President of IHRCCO, other IHRCCO officials, and Smti. Preeja Menon, Ld. Advocate and Panel Lawyer of DLSA, A&N Islands were also present.
Shri Jayanta Mukherjee, in his address, spoke on the safety of girls in schools and homes, as well as women’s safety in workplaces. He explained the process of filing complaints and the redressal mechanisms available under law. He elaborated on the provisions of the POCSO Act, measures to ensure the safety of girl children, and also addressed the issue of child marriage, detailing the procedure to report such incidents and the role of concerned authorities.
Shri Samrat Roy spoke about drug abuse, its causes, and its impact on youth and society. He also emphasized child safety and informed the public about various helpline numbers and welfare schemes implemented by the Legal Services Authorities, including Free Legal Aid, Mediation, Lok Adalats, and NALSA Schemes. He highlighted the importance of resolving disputes through pre-litigation mechanisms.
Earlier, Smti. Saraswati Narayan delivered the introductory address, highlighting the objectives and importance of the Legal Awareness Programme. The villagers actively interacted with the dignitaries, raising several legal queries, which were addressed in detail. The programme concluded with positive participation from the local community.