Orientation programme dissects NALSA schemes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 19 2025: Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) conducted a two-day orientation training programme on NALSA's schemes namely Child-Friendly Legal Services, 2024, and Legal Services to Persons with Mental Illness and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, 2024 at ADR Centre, Lamphel Court Complex, Imphal.

Informing this, a press release issued by MASLSA said that the programme was attended by secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities, legal aid defence counsel, panel advocates, and para legal volunteers (PLVs) .

Delivering the key-note address, MASLSA member secretary Alek Muivah emphasised the importance of ensuring access to legal aid for vulnerable children, particularly those who come into conflict with the law, stating that children often face challenges in navigating complex legal procedures due to lack of maturity and education.

He highlighted that the scheme aims to provide expert, specialised, and competent legal practitioners to help children, including those with disabilities, understand their legal rights, entitlements, and court processes.

The member secretary also underlined the need for creating a specialised workforce consisting of panel lawyers and para legal volunteers to ensure legal services are accessible to children, including those with disabilities, at all stages of legal proceedings - civil, criminal, or administrative.

Calling for a child-friendly, child-sensitive environment within the existing justice system, and ensuring every child feels valued and encouraged to express their opinions, Alek Muivah point -ed out that stakeholders, in eluding district courts, high courts, Supreme Court, and state executives, need to be sensitised about the rights and entitlements of children and children with disabilities.

MASLSA also informed that the programme featured discussion of the creation of Legal Services Units for Children (LSUC) in every district as envisioned in the NALSA (Child-Friendly Legal Services for Children) Scheme, 2024 .

Each LSUC will be headed by the secretary of the respective DLSA and will include a retired judicial officer, a senior deputy legal aid defence counsel, panel advocates, and para legal volunteers.

On the second day (Sunday), MASLSA additional member secretary Binesh wori Maibam delivered the keynote address.

Rajshree Yambem, Khangembam Rojita Devi, and L Bobo Singh also deliberated on various topics related to the schemes.

Experts from the RIMS department of psychiatry, Dr Mona Nongmeikapam and Dr Arambam Carol, spoke on the National Mental Health Programme and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.The training programme provided a comprehensive understanding of the schemes and their implementation to ensure effective legal services for children and individuals with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities, the release added.

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