In a significant move to raise legal literacy around gender safety and child protection, the Andaman and Nicobar State Legal Services Authority (A&N SLSA), in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), organized a Legal Awareness Programme in Sri Vijaya Puram on July 12. The session was focused on the provisions and implementation of two critical legislations, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (POSH) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The awareness session was held at the Community Hall of Ward No. 1, Haddo, and was attended by key legal professionals including the Registrar of the Circuit Bench at Port Blair, Additional District & Sessions Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Special Public Prosecutor, and practicing advocates. It also drew participation from ward-level elected representatives, community members, and frontline workers from the Social Welfare Department.
The programme began with a detailed explanation of the POCSO Act, which deals with protection of children against sexual offences, while laying out stringent punishments for perpetrators. The legal representatives explained how the act mandates child-friendly procedures during investigation and trial, ensuring minimum trauma for the victims. Attendees were briefed on the importance of early reporting, mandatory confidentiality, and in-camera proceedings.
The discussion then shifted to the POSH Act, which mandates safe workplace environments and outlines the responsibilities of employers to prevent sexual harassment. Legal professionals explained how the law requires the formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in every workplace and the need to address grievances swiftly and fairly. The role of HR departments and local complaints committees in supporting survivors was also underlined.
Participants, including Anganwadi workers and women from the Social Welfare Department, were sensitized to the nuances of “good touch” and “bad touch,” particularly for children, to aid in community-level awareness. Emphasis was placed on the importance of breaking the silence around abuse through education and open dialogue.
Special Public Prosecutor Tasneem Abid highlighted the sensitive nature of handling cases involving minors under POCSO. She stressed the importance of empathy from the first point of contact, whether it be the police, medical staff, or social workers. Abid also noted that institutions must be vigilant about maintaining protective custody and care for minor victims throughout the legal process.
Additional District and Sessions Judge Niyaz Alam provided further insights into POCSO’s legal mechanisms that safeguard victim identity and dignity. He elaborated on legal restrictions placed on media reporting, the need for closed-door hearings, and protections against victim shaming. His remarks emphasized a victim-centric approach to justice that encourages participation without fear.
The Secretary of the DLSA, Samrat Roy, outlined existing support mechanisms including free legal aid, compensation schemes, and national initiatives such as the NALSA SAATHI campaign, which promotes legal identity and entitlement-based protections for destitute children. He called for collective responsibility in safeguarding community rights.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the local ward councillor, who acknowledged the efforts of legal institutions in creating a legally aware citizenry. Organizers underscored that similar outreach activities would continue across the islands to strengthen grassroots legal awareness.
The event marked a proactive step in aligning public awareness with legislative intent, reinforcing the judiciary’s role in not just enforcing but also disseminating law. As calls for safer public and private spaces gain momentum, such outreach programmes are seen as key to enabling systemic change in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
