Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 October 2025
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), A&N Islands, in collaboration with the International Human Rights & Crime Control Organisation (IHRCCO), recently organized a Legal Awareness Programme at the Community Hall, Chouldari. The session focused on the prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace, the POCSO Act, and drug abuse.
The programme was attended by Mr. Samrat Roy, Ld. Chief Judicial Magistrate, South Andaman-cum-Secretary, DLSA, along with Mr. Jayanta Mukherjee, Ld. Judicial Magistrate First Class, 2nd Court, Port Blair & Principal Magistrate, Juvenile Justice Board, South Andaman. Also present were Ms. Saraswati Narayan, National General Secretary & State President of IHRCCO, other IHRCCO officials, and Ms. Preeja Menon, Ld. Advocate and Panel Lawyer of DLSA, A&N Islands.
During his address, Mr. Jayanta Mukherjee emphasized the safety of girls in schools and homes and women in workplaces. He explained the complaint filing process, available redressal mechanisms, and the provisions of the POCSO Act. He also discussed measures to prevent child marriage and outlined the procedure for reporting such incidents to the concerned authorities.
Mr. Samrat Roy spoke on the causes and societal impact of drug abuse, stressing child safety and awareness. He also highlighted various welfare schemes and legal support services offered by the Legal Services Authorities, including Free Legal Aid, Mediation, Lok Adalats, and NALSA Schemes, emphasizing the importance of resolving disputes through pre-litigation mechanisms.
The programme began with an introductory address by Ms. Saraswati Narayan, who underlined the objectives and significance of legal awareness initiatives. The session saw active participation from villagers, who raised several legal queries that were addressed in detail. The event concluded on a positive note, reflecting strong community engagement.
