Panaji, March 1st, 2017 …. The Goa State Legal Services Authority in association with District Legal Services Authority, North Goa organized an awareness programme on February 23, 2017 at State bank Learning Centre, Patto, Panaji Goa on NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their Protection) Scheme. The programme was inaugurated by Shri Justice Avinash Lavande, (Retd.) Judge, High Court of Bombay at Goa in the presence of Shri Saresh D. Lotlikar, Ld. Advocate General for the State of Goa, Senior Advocate M.S. Usgaonkar, Distinguished members of the Bar and others. Shri Justice Avinash P. Lavande, (Retd.) Judge, high Court of Bombay at Goa said that the success of enacting the laws protecting child rights, either by Central or State Government depends upon execution. Because everywhere you find problem of execution of the legislation. He also stated that counseling of the children and parents has to be encouraged. He also stated that for that to happen all the stake holders have to co-operate.
Shri Saresh D. Lotlikar while addressing the gathering discussed about child abuse and spoke of the responsibility and role of the lawyers, judges in dealing with the issue. He said that we must educate the parents of the children about their rights.
The sessions earlier started with the skit on child abuse which was performed by the members of Child Help Line. Thereafter in the second session, Smt. Shabnam Shaikh, Secretary, of District Legal Service Authority made Power Point presentation on the Scheme of the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal services to Children and their Protection) Scheme, 2015.
Sujana De Souza, Co-ordinator of Child Help Line spoke on Child Abuse. She informed that the child helpline No. is 1098. She explained What Constituted Child Abuse and said that Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and /or emotional ill-treatment.
Snehal Salgaonkar, member of Childrens Right in Goa spoke on the rights of the girl child and discussed various cases pertaining to molestation, rape etc.
