GANDERBAL, JULY 01: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Ganderbal convened a meeting of the Legal Services Unit for Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (LSUM), under the guidance of Abdul Nasir, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (Principal District & Sessions Judge), Ganderbal, and under the supervision of Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Ganderbal, to review and strengthen the effective implementation of the NALSA (Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) Scheme, 2024, in compliance with the directions issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority.
The meeting was attended by Mehraj Din, Senior Prosecution Officer, representing the Department of Police, Ganderbal; Mohd. Amin, Sub-Inspector, representing Subsidiary Jail, Dignibal; Shabana Hamid, Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, representing the Department of Social Welfare; Members of the LSUM Unit; Panel Lawyers; and Para Legal Volunteers of DLSA Ganderbal.
During the meeting, the Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the Scheme and directed all concerned departments to strengthen institutional coordination, facilitate timely identification and referral of beneficiaries, ensure access to free legal aid, undertake regular awareness and outreach programmes, and strictly comply with the guidelines issued by NALSA and J&K Legal Services Authority.
The stakeholders were further instructed to work in close coordination for safeguarding the legal rights of persons with mental illness and persons with intellectual disabilities, ensuring that legal services remain accessible, inclusive, and responsive in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment by all stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the Scheme through coordinated action and sustained institutional support.
