SSLSA holds legal awareness programme at Passingdang

MANGAN, (IPR): Judge, High Court of Sikkim and executive chairperson, Sikkim State Legal Services Authority, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai chaired the legal aid awareness programme organized at Block Development Office, Passingdang, North Sikkim today.
The programme had the presence of District and Sessions judge & chairman, District Legal Services Authority (North), N.G. Sherpa, member secretary, SSLSA, Sonam Palden Bhutia, SDM (Passingdang) Dr. Sonam Rinchen Lepcha, ADM (North) Sonam Lepcha, ADC (Dev) Mangan R.B. Bhandari, CDPO (Dzongu) Netuk Lepcha, zilla panchayats, public of Dzongu, North Sikkim and officers and staff of Block Development Office, Passingdang, District & Sessions Court Mangan and District Legal Services Authority, North Sikkim.
The chief guest, Judge, High Court of Sikkim and executive chairperson, SSLSA, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, in her address, said that parents should not differentiate between male and female children in the family and deserves an equal chance to survive and thrive. She mentioned Lok Adalat and Mediation are other forums which can be helpful mechanisms, it resolves conflict in a peaceful manner where the outcome is accepted by both the parties within a limited time. She also addressed the issue of alcohol addiction faced by the locals and advised them to consider it as an illness and urged the people not to be afraid of stigmatization and approach  psychiatrists and psychologists to get relief.
District judge (North) N.G. Sherpa, in his speech, talked about the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). He mentioned parents and said that children from age 3 -4 years onwards, should be taught to say yes and no if they feel uncomfortable through the approach of others. He said that they should teach children that mothers, sisters, aunties and female school teachers are important persons whom they can trust and disclose everything including their secret matters without hesitation. He added that parents should believe what they are saying and don't try to suppress it. He also mentioned how offender grooms the minor children before committing sexual offence and what are basic symptoms which can be seen on victims of sexual abuse.
Member secretary, SSLSA, Sonam Palden Bhutia, in his speech, apprised about Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005. He said that women of any status, facing physical, emotional, economic and verbal issues are the victims of domestic abuse and said that they can file a case against their offenders. He urged the women to become self-reliant and independent. He mentioned the various methods of lodging their complaints and the authorities or associations to whom they can approach for it and stated the availability of an option of a shelter home for the victims for two years.
The programme concluded with the responses to queries from the public.
Earlier, Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai, on her way back from Thangu, visited the construction site of the court of Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate at Chungthang.