GANDERBAL, AUGUST 31: As part of the Mega Drive for implementation of NALSA Schemes at the Grassroot Level (Phase-I), District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Ganderbal has fully established two Village Legal Aid Clinics at Panchayat Ghar Anderwan-A and Panchayat Ghar Anderwan-B, with an objective of taking legal services, awareness and welfare benefits closer to the people of the identified village at the grassroots level.
The initiative is being undertaken in pursuance of the directions of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority under the ongoing 60-day Mega Drive. The two Village Legal Aid Clinics have been properly arranged and equipped with display banners carrying the contact details of the Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel (LADC), panel lawyers and Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs), enabling the local residents to easily approach the legal services functionaries for timely and effective assistance as per NALSA’s schemes.
Monday, a team of DLSA Ganderbal headed by the Deputy LADC, visited the identified clinics and held detailed discussions with the villagers. During the interaction, the team apprised the residents about various NALSA schemes and entitlements, the availability of free legal services and the manner in which eligible persons can seek legal advice, assistance and support through the Village Legal Aid Clinics.
The villagers were specifically requested to visit the Legal Aid Clinics with their grievances, legal issues and difficulties so that the same can be appropriately addressed and, wherever required, assistance can be provided through the legal services machinery. The team also sensitized the residents regarding the availability of free legal aid to eligible persons as per section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
DLSA Ganderbal is also undertaking door-to-door legal awareness and outreach activities in the area to ensure that persons who are unable to visit the Legal Aid Clinics themselves are not left out. Through such direct outreach activities, the Authority aims to identify eligible beneficiaries and facilitate access to benefits under the identified NALSA schemes, particularly among downtrodden, vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of society of the said village.
The outreach is focused on creating awareness regarding schemes and legal entitlements concerning children, education and schooling, senior citizens, persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities, victims of human-wildlife conflict and acid attacks, victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, workers in the unorganized sector, Veer Parivar and poverty alleviation schemes, besides other relevant legal services entitled to the villagers.
The establishment of the Village Legal Aid Clinics, marks an important step towards bringing the justice delivery and legal aid system to the doorstep of the people. DLSA Ganderbal shall continue to monitor and supervise the functioning of the clinics and conduct sustained awareness and outreach activities throughout the Mega Drive so that the intended beneficiaries are able to effectively avail the benefits of the identified NALSA schemes and other legal services.
The Authority has also urged the local community and all concerned stakeholders to extend their cooperation in making the 60-day Mega Drive under Phase-I successful and ensuring that no eligible and deserving person is deprived of legal assistance or welfare benefits due to lack of awareness or accessibility.
