Bandipora, September 22: The Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA) and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bandipora, in collaboration with the Indian Army and UNICEF, organized a one-day capacity-building programme on child protection under the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme-2024 at the Auditorium Hall, Government Boys’ Higher Secondary School, Dawar Gurez.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge, High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and Executive Chairman, JKLSA, presided over the event. He highlighted the role of district-level Legal Services Units in implementing the NALSA scheme and stressed the need for collective efforts from all stakeholders to ensure child welfare.
Justice Kumar also addressed issues including child marriage, child labour, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He distributed IEC material to Asha workers, teachers, Anganwadi workers, and students to disseminate key takeaways from the programme.
In a first for Gurez, Justice Kumar conducted Division Bench proceedings virtually from the Munsiff Court, Gurez, hearing around 50 matters through the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court wings in Jammu and Srinagar.
He emphasized the importance of using this VC facility for e-filing cases, particularly during harsh weather or road blockades, to strengthen judicial access in remote areas.
The programme also included a symbolic tree-planting activity by Justice Kumar to promote environmental awareness.
Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, JKLSA, highlighted the Authority’s commitment to child-friendly legal services and expressed gratitude to the Indian Army and UNICEF for their support. Mr. Khalil Ahmad Choudhary, Principal District and Sessions Judge and DLSA Bandipora Chairman, spoke on child protection and the role of stakeholders in preventing abuse and exploitation.
Shafeeq Ahmad Bhat, Panel Lawyer, presented an overview of the NALSA (Child Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme-2024. Syed Mujtaba, UNICEF Consultant, spoke on the child protection ecosystem and constitutional safeguards, using case studies to illustrate implementation challenges.
Mohammad Hashim, Member, Child Welfare Committee Bandipora, addressed inter-departmental convergence and collaboration under the NALSA scheme. Dr. Imtiyaz, Medical Officer, discussed medico-legal aspects concerning child victims and children in need of care.
Sheikh Bar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Bandipora, delivered the welcome address and vote of thanks. Proceedings were coordinated by Nazia Parveen, Assistant LADC, and Amir Shafi, Panel Lawyer. IEC material on child protection prepared by UNICEF and JKLSA was distributed among participants.
The programme saw participation from legal professionals, social welfare officials, education and health departments, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and representatives from the Indian Army and UNICEF. The event was monitored by Mehak Mehoob, Munsiff Gurez, and SDM Gurez.
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