Namchi, 21 Aug: District Legal Services Authority (South) and Taluk Legal Services Committee (South) in coordination with the Sikkim State Legal Services Authority organized a Legal Services Camp at the premises of the Nayan Tshering Lepcha School in Vok, South Sikkim on 20th August.

The purpose of the camp was to spread awareness about welfare legislation, various schemes and to strengthen the community’s access to the schemes being implemented by the Legal Services Authority and other Departments of the Government.

The programme aimed at identifying and connecting people to welfare schemes to ensure that fruits of the welfare schemes are passed to the eligible people. The program also looked upon understanding the legal needs of the people by addressing their legal problems and giving appropriate legal advice.

Today’s event focused mainly on NALSA (Legal Services to Disaster Victim through Legal Services Authorities) Scheme, 2010.

The programme was launched by Ld. Chairperson, DLSA (South), Mr. Jiwan Kumar Kharka, in the presence of Secretary, DLSA (South), Ms. Jwala D. Thapa, South District Legal Ld. Panel Advocates, Ms. Sushila Thapa, Mr. B.S. Pradhan and Ms. Yashoda Rai, Medical Officer (Namchi District Hospital), Dr. Dipshika Pradhan, Training Officer from Department of Land Revenue and Disaster Management, (South), Mr. Abisek Kharel, Ms. Arpana Kharthok from Social Welfare Department, Mr. Sobit Chettri from Jorethang Police Station, Ms. Sumitra Subba from BAC, Sikip, Ms. Laxmi Tamang and Sanu Rai Para-Legal Volunteer, Panchayat members and the local gentries of Vok, Omchu and Chumlok, South Sikkim.

One of the highlights of the camp was the “Oral Health Programme” conducted by the DLSA, South in collaboration with the Colgate-Palmolive Company, Mumbai. Dr. Deepshika Pradhan provided free dental check-ups to school students and they were also provided free dental kits provided by the Colgate-Palmolive Company, Mumbai.

After the dental check-up, the students were also provided awareness on oral health and correct brushing techniques by Dr. Deepshika Pradhan. The school as well as the staffs were also provided a certificate of appreciation as well as a a certificate of participation from the Colgate-Palmolive Company, Mumbai.

The people gathered there also interacted with the other resource persons and gained invaluable insight into the facilities and schemes of the other participatory departments.

There were around 135 people who attended the program and 122 were the number of beneficiaries. The attendees interacted with the officers and representatives of the departments present to address their problems and to procure appropriate advice and guidance.