Senior Citizens Rights - An Awarness Campaign of Calangute Free Legal Aid Cell

Calangute Free Legal Aid Cell organised a legal awareness program in collaboration with Lions Club of Calangute on "Maintenance and Protection of Senior Citizen and their Consumer Rights" on 5th of March 2017 at 11.00am at Senior Citizen Hall.

The chief guest and spokesperson for the program was Mr . Roland Martins an activist , an active member of the Goa State Consumer protection council and consumer conciliation committee. Others present were professor Nagesh kolvalkar and Mrs. Eudis another member of consumer forum and Mrs.Kanchan Nagvenkar(President of Lions club Of Calangute) .

The students also filled forms for making senior citizen cards.The program was attended by almost 80 people mostly compromising of women aged between 20 yrs to 70 yrs. All the cell members were present for the program. Ms.Rupa welcomed the gathering and introduced the legal aid cell. Ms.sonal introduced the guest. Professor Nagesh Kolvalkar spoke about the services that the legal aid cell provides.

“Telecommunication & Cable Services: What You Ought To Know!” - A Calangute Free Legal Aid Cell Campaign

The Calangute Legal Aid Cell of the V M Salgaocar College of Law organised a legal awareness program titled “Telecommunication & Cable Services: What You Ought To Know!”, on  13th of February 2016 at the Calangute Panchayat Hall. Mr. Roland Martins, co-ordinator of GOACAN was the resource person for the program.

Mr. Martins spoke about the main rights that a consumer has, under the Consumer Protection Act, specifically with regard to telephone operators, mobile service providers, and TV content providers; be they local cable operators, or the large companies who provide digitalised content. His discourse on this subject was startlingly accessible to the audience, despite the fact the subject is technical in nature. His presentation was filled with practical examples of the simplest rights which consumers have, and how to exercise these rights. For instance, his explanation of the extent to which telephone operators such as BSNL have failed to provide services which they are contractually obligated to provide (they are even supposed to lay out the wiring to your telephone), and the quantum of the refunds which consumers are entitled to - but alas, never claim, were met by appreciation by the audience. He explained the most common methods by which consumers are duped by cold calls, and scams and how a responsible consumer ought to protect himself from such calls, and much more.  

In attendance at the program were residents - young and old - of Calangute and the surrounding areas. Professor Aamod Shirali of the V M Salgaocar College of Law, the Professor in charge of the Calangute Legal Aid Cell was also present. Pamphlets on Consumer Protection and details of whom to lodge complaints with were distributed to every audience member. The program ended with the distribution of refreshments to the audience, and a vote of thanks by a member of the Legal Aid Cell.