Convener News Desk
Bandipora, Jan 14: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bandipora on Tuesday organised an awareness programme on children in need of care and protection and children in conflict with law, in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).
The programme was held under the chairpersonship of DLSA Bandipora Chairperson Jeema Bashir and under the guidance of Secretary DLSA Bandipora Sheikh Baber Hussain, in compliance with the directions of Member Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, Shazia Tabasum.
The initiative aimed to sensitise stakeholders and the general public about child rights, provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and existing child protection mechanisms.
The programme was inaugurated by Umeed Shafi, DICE In-charge, who stressed the need for coordinated efforts among departments to ensure the welfare and protection of children. Protection Officer DCPU Sofi Gowhar Mehmood briefed participants on the role of the District Child Protection Unit in identifying, rescuing and rehabilitating children in vulnerable situations.
Mohammad Hasham Rather, Member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), spoke about the statutory role of the CWC under the Juvenile Justice Act and emphasised the importance of timely intervention in cases involving children in need of care and protection.
Resource persons from DLSA Bandipora, Advocate Iqbal Rabbani Bhat, Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel, and Advocate Javid Iqbal Lone, Assistant Legal Aid Defence Counsel, elaborated on various child-centric laws, including the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, the POCSO Act and child labour laws. They also highlighted the role of legal services authorities in providing free legal aid to children and stressed the importance of grassroots-level awareness to prevent violations of child rights.
Member Juvenile Justice Board Suhan Akther also addressed the gathering, underscoring the responsibility of society, families and institutions in creating a safe and protective environment for children.
The programme concluded with remarks by Saqib Shabir of the DCPU, who summarised the discussions and reiterated the need for inter-departmental coordination and community participation in strengthening child protection initiatives.
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