Nawanshahr (Des Raj Bali):- Under the directions of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority, SAS Nagar, and under the guidance of District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Jatinder Pal Singh Khurmi, and Civil Judge (Senior Division)/CJM-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Dr Amandeep, the District Legal Services Authority organised legal awareness seminars under the ‘Safe Childhood Campaign’ at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Balachaur, and PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Rattewal, Block Balachaur-1, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, to educate children about their rights and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
Addressing the seminar at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Balachaur, Lakhwinder Kaur, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Balachaur Sub-Division Court, Nawanshahr, informed students about their rights and the legal safeguards available to protect them from sexual offences. She explained that the POCSO Act, 2012, provides legal protection against sexual abuse to every child below 18 years of age, irrespective of whether the child is a boy or a girl. She also emphasised that information about any such offence should be reported immediately by calling helpline number 1098.
During the seminar, participants were informed that any needy person can contact the District Legal Services Authority office to obtain free legal aid. For legal assistance or advice, the authority’s toll-free number 15100 can be contacted.
A separate awareness seminar on the POCSO Act, 2012, was also organised at PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Rattewal, under the same campaign. Panel Advocate Mandeep Singh and Para Legal Volunteers Avtar Chand Chumber, Jaswinder Kaur Rani and Ravjot Singh Chumber, associated with the District Legal Services Authority, raised awareness among students about child rights and protection under the Act.
Street plays and drawing competitions were organised during the seminars. Teachers were present at both schools.
