1,234 legal literacy clubs launched in Shivamogga schools

The Shivamogga district judiciary and administration jointly launched 1,234 legal literacy clubs across schools in Shivamogga on January 22. The clubs, aimed at spreading awareness about rights, duties and laws among students, have been set up in select government, aided and private schools as well as pre-university colleges across the district.

Abhay Dhanapal Chougala, the District and Sessions Judge (in-charge) of Shivamogga, inaugurated the clubs in the presence of senior officers at a programme held in Shivamogga.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chougala said the clubs had been launched to spread legal awareness among children and, through them, among society as well. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse in jurisprudence. However, each individual cannot be aware of every law. Hence, through the clubs, we would like to reach the public. Children will understand the significance of laws and spread awareness among people around them,” he said.

Recalling his days as member-secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) in Vijayapura, Mr. Chougala said he had also taken the initiative to launch such clubs in that district. Through the activities of the clubs, the children were well aware of the law that prohibits child marriage. “In one of the schools, the club members staged a dharna and successfully stopped the marriage of a 17-year-old classmate. That was possible because of the clubs,” he stated.

Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti said that through the clubs, students would learn about the Indian constitution, fundamental rights and duties, and certain laws that help them to lead a meaningful life. He also appealed to the students to follow road safety norms and avoid accidents.

Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat CEO N. Hemanth said the district had recorded a significant number of child marriages and POCSO cases last year. Through consistent efforts and activities to spread awareness, the numbers had reduced in recent months. “Many children have themselves intervened to stop child marriages in the district. They called the child helpline and alerted the concerned authorities about the planned marriages,” he said.

Santhosh M.S., member secretary of the DLSA in Shivamogga, said that creating awareness about laws related to child marriage, child labour and road safety was among the key objectives behind establishing the clubs. The clubs would succeed in fulfilling the objectives with the cooperation of the teachers, he added.