JK News Live
Ganderbal, April 29, 2025: The Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal, chaired a significant maiden review meeting today on April 29, 2025, of the members of Legal Services Unit for Persons with Mental Illness & Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (LSUM) and Legal Services Unit for Children (LSUC), in the Office Chamber of Secretary DLSA Ganderbal, to discuss and review the implementation of the NALSA (Child-Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme, 2024 and NALSA (Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024 for providing legal services to children and persons with mental illness & intellectual disabilities.
Mr. Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal, underscored the critical role of Legal Services Units in safeguarding the rights of two key vulnerable groups including children and persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
Addressing the members of the Legal Services Unit for Children (LSUC), Secretary DLSA Ganderbal highlighted the need to ensure children have access to expert, specialized, and competent legal services. That legal services units should provide age-appropriate and multi-disciplinary legal services tailored to the unique needs of children. Key initiatives emphasized include conducting outreach programs to identify and assist vulnerable children, spreading awareness about their rights, entitlements, and legal remedies, and fostering a child-friendly environment within the justice system. Collaboration with communities, educational institutions, government departments, and NGOs was also stressed to strengthen the ecosystem for implementing laws and policies safeguarding children’s rights.
In a parallel effort, Secretary DLSA Ganderbal charged the members of the Legal Services Unit for Mentally Ill & Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (LSUM) with the responsibility of ensuring of free & competent legal services in order to cater to the specific and unique needs of persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. This includes providing accessible legal services in all civil, administrative, and criminal matters, ensuring equal access to schemes, programs, facilities, and services, in providing information about legal rights in a manner tailored to the unique and challenging needs of these individuals. The importance of collaboration with government institutions, NGOs, universities, and other key stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of laws and policies especially Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, safeguarding the rights of persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities was also emphasized.
Through these initiatives, DLSA Ganderbal aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of these vulnerable groups, ensuring their rights are protected and their voices are heard within the justice system.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to work together to promote access to justice for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and children in Ganderbal District and this move shall be taken to the remotest part of the District.
