G.R. Kare College of Law organised a Legal Aid Helpline Desk at the Village Panchayat Chicalim

The Mobile Legal Aid Clinic & Vasco Legal Aid Cell of VVM’s Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law, Margao, in collaboration with the Village Panchayat Chicalim, organised a Legal Aid Helpline Desk at the Village Panchayat Chicalim.

The initiative aimed to promote legal awareness, guidance and assistance among the local community and to improve access to justice. The services included providing basic legal information and guidance, assistance regarding legal rights and remedies, awareness about government schemes and legal aid services, referrals to appropriate authorities, and support concerning civic and community issues.

Inaugural Programme

The inaugural programme was held on 29th September 2026 at 12:30 p.m. at the Village Panchayat Chicalim.

The dignitaries and faculty members present on the occasion were:

1. Kamla Prasad Yadav – Sarpanch, Village Panchayat Chicalim.
2. Marie Mascarenhas – Former Sarpanch, Chicalim Panchayat and present Panch Member.
3. Shruti Nadkarni – Assistant Professor & Faculty In-charge, Vasco Legal Aid Clinic, VVM’s G.R. Kare College of Law.
4. Ruby Luis – Assistant Professor & Faculty In-charge, Mobile Legal Aid Clinic, VVM’s G.R. Kare College of Law.

The programme marked an important collaborative effort between the Village Panchayat Chicalim and VVM’s G.R. Kare College of Law to bring legal assistance and awareness closer to the community. The inaugural programme was  attended by students of the Vasco Legal Aid Clinic, students of VVM’s G.R. Kare College of Law, and villagers of Chicalim. Their participation reflected the collaborative nature of the initiative and the involvement of both the legal aid students and the local community.

Legal Aid Helpline Sessions

Following the inauguration, the Legal Aid Helpdesk was conducted on:

• 30th September 2026 (Wednesday): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• 1st October 2026 (Thursday): 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The initiative provided an opportunity for residents to seek preliminary legal guidance, understand their rights and remedies, and receive appropriate referrals wherever necessary. Students of the Vasco Legal Aid Clinic were present and actively assisted during the helpdesk sessions, supporting the faculty in interacting with members of the public and facilitating the provision of preliminary legal information and guidance.

Services Provided

The Legal Aid Helpline Desk aimed to provide:

• Basic legal information and guidance;
• Assistance regarding legal rights and remedies;
• Awareness about government schemes and legal aid services;
• Referral to appropriate authorities wherever necessary; and
• Support and guidance concerning civic and community-related issues.

In addition to legal assistance, the students also assisted the Village Panchayat Chicalim in filling and processing forms relating to the Goa Ujjwala Yojana, thereby helping eligible members of the community access information and assistance relating to the scheme.

To Conclude The Legal Aid Helpline Desk was a community-oriented legal awareness initiative intended to empower citizens, promote access to justice and create greater awareness of available legal aid services. The collaboration between the VVM’s G.R. Kare College of Law and Village Panchayat Chicalim demonstrated the importance of connecting legal education and professional guidance with the needs of the local community.