In observance of National Youth Day, marking the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in partnership with PRAYAS Juvenile Aid Centre (JAC), organised a two-fold Legal Services and Youth Awareness Programme at Dr B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) on January 12. The initiative aimed to combine legal education with inspiration from Swami Vivekananda’s teachings to empower the island’s youth.
The programme was attended by a host of judicial officials, including Neyaz Alam, Additional District & Sessions Judge, Port Blair, Samrat Roy, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, DLSA, and Anupam Sircar, Judicial Magistrate First Class (Additional Court), Port Blair. Also present were Mariya Sheela, Regional Head, PRAYAS JAC, and K. Vijay Kumar, Advisor, JAC. A large number of DBRAIT students and faculty actively participated in the sessions.
During the event, Additional District & Sessions Judge Neyaz Alam sensitised students on crucial social legislations. Key topics included the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, 2013, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He highlighted the importance of these laws in protecting youth and society from crime, exploitation, and substance abuse, stressing the relevance of legal awareness in everyday life.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Samrat Roy delivered an address titled “We Are Children of Eternity”, reflecting on Swami Vivekananda’s life, philosophy, and vision. He urged students to internalise Vivekananda’s principles of self-belief, discipline, moral character, and service to the nation. The speech emphasised the role of youth in nation-building and personal development.
Judicial Magistrate Anupam Sircar focused on leadership, responsibility, and moral strength. Using examples from Swami Vivekananda’s life, he encouraged students to cultivate confidence, accountability, and ethical conduct in both personal and professional spheres.
The programme successfully combined legal education with youth empowerment, providing participants with practical knowledge of their rights and duties while inspiring them through Swami Vivekananda’s teachings. Students left the sessions better informed about legal safeguards and motivated to embody the ideals of service, discipline, and social responsibility.
Officials from DLSA and PRAYAS noted that such initiatives aim to strengthen civic awareness among young adults and promote holistic development, aligning with the broader goals of National Youth Day. The event concluded with a call to action for students to actively apply the knowledge and values discussed, reinforcing their role as informed and responsible citizens of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
