Mumbai: Law students from Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Law got a first-hand exposure to the functioning of the legal services system during an educational visit to the Mumbai District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) office on September 28.

The study visit, organised for second-year SY.LL.B. students, focused on legal aid, government welfare schemes for victims and the growing challenge of substance abuse among young people.

During the first session, Gayatri Chavan briefed the students on the Manodhairya Scheme and the Victim Compensation Scheme. She explained the financial and legal assistance available to survivors of sexual offences and victims of serious crimes, besides outlining the rehabilitation process and the practical implementation of the schemes.

A special awareness session on drug abuse and the ‘Nasha-Mukti Mumbai’ (Addiction-Free Mumbai) campaign was subsequently conducted under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan of the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department’s Mumbai City office.

Bosco D’Souza, member of the Nashabandi Mandal Maharashtra State and a national trainer, along with Mumbai coordinator Chetna Sawant and Vivek Salvi, addressed the students on the harmful effects of narcotic and other addictive substances. The speakers also discussed relevant legal provisions and the role law students can play in creating awareness and preventing substance abuse among young people.

D’Souza used a detailed PowerPoint presentation and practical examples to explain different types of addictive substances and their adverse physical, psychological and social consequences.

DLSA Mumbai Secretary Vivek D. Deshmukh, along with Manisha Chavan, Sangeeta Vetal, staff members and volunteers, contributed to the successful conduct of the programme.

The visit was organised and coordinated by Dr Swapnil Chaudhary, Assistant Professor at VES College of Law, with the objective of supplementing classroom-based legal education with practical exposure.

Students said the interaction helped them understand not only the functioning of legal services institutions but also how welfare schemes, victim rehabilitation and law-based interventions address wider social concerns such as substance abuse.