Dimapur, April 23 (EMN): Kohima District Legal Services Authority (KDLSA) and the Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority (ZDLSA) conducted legal awareness for students on April 22 and 23 in their respective district.
KDLSA organised the legal literacy programme at Pinewood High School, Kohima, on April 22 with the participation of panel lawyers, para legal volunteers, students and teachers.
KDLSA panel lawyer Sunjib Rana, who chaired the programme, briefly highlighted about the Legal Services Authority and functions of the Legal Aid Clinics. He said these services were given to the weaker sections of the society.
Resource person and KDLSA panel lawyer Thejapfutuo Khezhie spoke on Child Right & Protection of Children from Sexual offence (POCSO) Act 2012. He said prior to 2012 there was no special law for the children adding it was 2012 the parliament enacted a law called the “Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act 2012.” According to the Act, children are those who are under the age of 18 years. He said about 40% of children in India and 53% in the world are facing from sexual harassment.
Another resource person and KDLSA panel lawyer Mrs Wapangienla Kichu, who spoke on “Protection from Human Trafficking & Child Labour,” said human trafficking is one of the fasting growing crimes in the world. Trafficking means the buying and selling of the humans especially children. She said a child goes missing every 8 minutes in India. She said human trafficking takes place mainly due to poverty/ lack of education/ lack of employment and social media.
She also reminded that child labour is a serious crime adding even the Constitution of India prohibits child labour. She said as a responsible citizens, students should spread the message that employing a child below the age of 14 years as domestic help is a crime and punishable by law.
Resource person and KDLSA panel lawyer Nancy Lotha, who spoke on “Protection from online violence & cyber crime,’ said cyber crimes are growing in the world. Cyber crime is an offence committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally cause physical/ mental harm directly or indirectly using modern technology such as internet (chat rooms, e-mails, SMS, MMS).
She cautioned the students to refrain from publishing sensitive personal information on any asocial media and also avoid checking emails accounts at cyber café and to sign off online account when they no longer want to access.
The welcome address was delivered by the principal of Pinewood High School. She thanked the Kohima District Legal Services Authority for organising the legal literacy programme in the school and hoped that students would be able to learn/benefit through the awareness programme and utilise the rights provided by the Constitution on India.
The programme concluded with the screening on child rights and cyber crimes.
In a separate programme, Zunheboto District Legal Services Authority (ZDLSA) conducted legal awareness programme at Old Town colony prayer fellowship on April 23.
Around 100 Sunday School students of Path Finders and Unique Link Groups (aged 13-21 years), PLVs, panel lawyer, retainer lawyer and ZDLSA officials attended the awareness programme.
Miss. Easter H Yepthomi, Panel Lawyer ZDLSA and resource person, stressed that ignorance of law is not an excusable defense in legal adjudication. She said everyone should be aware of his/ her legal rights and duties covered under various statutes.
The resource person spoke on cyber crimes, POCSO Act, prohibition of smoking under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), legal aid and services and civic sense. The programme ended with an interactive session.
