Jalandhar, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Jalandhar, has launched Phase I of the pan-India school awareness campaign ‘Surakshit Bachpan Abhiyan’ to educate children about their rights, legal protections and safeguards under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The initiative is being implemented under the guidance of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Punjab State Legal Services Authority (PULSA), with the objective of promoting child safety and ensuring that schoolchildren are aware of the legal mechanisms available to protect them from abuse and exploitation.
The district-level campaign was formally inaugurated at SD Phullarwan Senior Secondary School for Girls, Jalandhar, by Priya Sood, District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairperson of DLSA Jalandhar. She was accompanied by Rahul Kumar, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, DLSA Jalandhar, and Archana Kamboj, Special Judge, Fast Track Court (POCSO), Jalandhar.
The event was attended by J.K. Gulati, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Jalandhar; Amarjyoti Sharma, Principal of SD Phullarwan Senior Secondary School for Girls; Harleen Kaur, Panel Advocate, DLSA Jalandhar; Jagan Nath, Senior Assistant, DLSA Jalandhar; along with para-legal volunteers, DLSA staff members and schoolteachers.
Addressing the gathering, District and Sessions Judge Priya Sood highlighted the legal assistance and victim compensation provided by DLSA to victims of offences covered under the POCSO Act. She also stressed the importance of strict enforcement of the law and appropriate punishment for those found guilty of offences against children.
The campaign aims to educate students about child rights, legal protections and safety measures through age-appropriate and sensitive awareness sessions. Judicial officers and other dignitaries emphasised the need to create a safe, responsive and protective environment for children across the district.
The awareness programme covers several themes, including ‘Mera Bachpan, Mera Adhikar’ (My Childhood, My Rights), ‘Kanoon Jaano, Bachpan Bachao’ (Know the Law, Protect Childhood), ‘Surakshit Click, Surakshit Bachpan’ (Safe Click, Safe Childhood), ‘Bolo, Batao, Bachao’ (Speak, Tell, Protect), ‘Na Bal Vivah, Na Bal Shoshan’ (No Child Marriage, No Child Abuse) and ‘Jaagruk Bachpan, Sashakt Bharat’ (Aware Childhood, Empowered India).
Students are also being informed about emergency helplines and legal assistance mechanisms that can help them seek support when required. These include the NALSA legal aid helpline at 15100, the Child Helpline at 1098, the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ POCSO e-Box.
The sessions also feature interactive activities to address common misconceptions and explain how children can seek immediate assistance through DLSA and Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committees (SDLSCs).
As part of the district-wide implementation scheduled from October 27 to October 31, 2026, DLSA Jalandhar is conducting awareness programmes in multiple schools. The sessions are scheduled during morning assembly hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., before regular court hours.
The campaign will continue across government, aided and private schools in Jalandhar, Nakodar and Phillaur blocks to expand awareness of child protection laws and ensure that more students understand their rights and the channels available to seek help.
Through ‘Surakshit Bachpan Abhiyan’, DLSA Jalandhar aims to strengthen awareness of child safety, encourage children to speak up when they face abuse or exploitation, and improve access to legal support and protection mechanisms.
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