Legal awareness prog. conducted for student leaders in Zunheboto

Dimapur, Sep. 22 (EMN): The Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority (ZDLSA) conducted a legal awareness programme on Fundamental Duties, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and National Food Security Act, 2013, with executive members of Zunheboto Range Students’ Union on September 18 at District Court complex.

Speaking on the Fundamental Duties under Article 51-A with emphasis on Article 51-A (g), ZDLSA Secretary Wokono Yhoshii stated that under this provision, it is the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forest, lake, rivers and wildlife.

Stating that there is still rampant hunting of the animals that falls under the endangered category which are enumerated in schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for monetary gains and also due to ignorance of the law as well as the species are endangered, she stressed on the need to educate the public at large and create awareness.

Elaborating on Art.51-A (i), which imposes a duty on the citizens to safeguard the public property, Yhoshii stated that when the fundamental duty is infringed, it is the society which gets affected and not the individual and thus, the common mentality of being selfish refrains us from taking any steps in enforcing our duties.

She concluded her speech saying that ‘only when each individual understands the importance of fulfilling their duties in the most earnest way, we can lead the nation towards development and progress’.

Retainer Lawyer Easter H Yepthomi spoke on the topic, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory, 2009 and the Consumer Protection act, 1986. She highlighted the key features of the RTE Act and requested the student body to pursue the issue of practice of releasing capitation fee by the government primary schools which is in contravention to the Act.

With regard to Consumer Protection Act, she gave an overall idea and purpose behind the enactment of the Act.

Panel Lawyer Nagaholi K Awomi spoke on the topic National Food Security Act, 2013. She highlighted the aims and objectives of the Act and shared different schemes provided under the National Food Security Act.

She also presented on the rights of the people belonging to the grassroots level of the society, on how to avail the benefits, the maternity entitlements provided to the pregnant women and lactating mother and certain categories of children eligible for daily free cereals.