SRINAGAR: Under the patronage of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Judge, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority), the J&K Legal Services Authority (LSA), in collaboration with UNICEF India and other partner institutions, organised a One Day Consultation on the NALSA (Child-Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme, 2024 at the J&K Judicial Academy, Mominabad, Srinagar.
In his Address, the Chief Guest, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, highlighted the need for institutional readiness, accountability, and a compassionate approach by all stakeholders involved in child protection. He urged legal services institutions to operationalise the Scheme effectively at the grassroots level.
In his address, Justice Sanjay Parihar, Judge, High Court of J&K & Ladakh, who emphasized the constitutional vision underlying the NALSA scheme and called for robust, empathetic, and coordinated mechanisms to support children navigating legal processes.
Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the need for a coordinated and child-centric approach in ensuring accessible, sensitive, and effective legal services for children under the NALSA framework.
Naseer Ahmad Wani, Director School Education, Kashmir, stressed the role of schools as primary stakeholders in early identification, interventions, and referral of children in need of protection and legal assistance.
Dr. Zaid Ahmad Wani, In-charge, CGWC–IMHANS Kashmir, in his address, stressed the psychological dimensions of child protection and the crucial role of child-friendly mechanisms in safeguarding mental well-being.
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF India, Hilal Ahmad Bhat, underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation, capacity building, and the integration of mental health support in legal service delivery for children.
A Booklet on the Child-Friendly Legal Services for Children Scheme, 2024 was launched on the occasion followed by a documentary screening and a pledge ceremony, reaffirming collective commitment to safeguarding children’s rights.
Later, Justice Muzzaffar Hussain Attar (Former Judge, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) inaugurated session II on “Overview of the Scheme and Provisions for Children Requiring Free Legal Services”. The session led by Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, featured DLSA Secretaries, Fozia Paul and Nusrat Ali Hakak as panellists.
The session provided a detailed overview of the Scheme’s structure, objectives, and implementation mechanisms. It also emphasized the need for a holistic, rights-based, and child-sensitive approach in delivering free legal services, and elaborated on the practical realities, challenges, and ethical considerations at the field level.
Session III, conducted by Fozia Paul, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority Anantnag focused on “Convergence and Inter-Departmental Collaboration”. The session highlighted the indispensable role of inter-departmental coordination between education, health, police, child welfare committees, juvenile justice boards, and legal services institutions in ensuring comprehensive support for children. Convergence models, best practices, and actionable strategies for strengthening institutional collaboration were highlighted.
Session IV, titled “Mind, Law & Care, A Holistic Approach through MHPSS”, was delivered by Dr. Abrar Ahmad Guroo, Senior Consultant, IMHANS-Kashmir. He discussed the intersection of mental health, legal awareness, and care-based support systems, and explained how trauma-informed and psychosocially sensitive approaches can significantly improve the outcomes of child protection interventions.
The consultation was marked by reflective discussions, active participation, and a strong emphasis on convergence reinforcing the collective resolve of the legal services ecosystem to ensure accessible, child-friendly, and holistic legal support systems for children across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
