Ganderbal : In observance of National Girl Child Day-2026, the Tehsil Legal Services Committee (TLSC), Ganderbal Saturday organised a legal awareness cum sensitisation programme at AWC Busserbugh, Ganderbal.
The programme was conducted with the primary objective of disseminating legal knowledge among the general public, particularly women, with regard to the constitutional rights, statutory safeguards and welfare schemes available for the girl child, and to promote access to justice, equality before law and social inclusion.
The initiative was undertaken in strict conformity with the Calendar of Activities issued by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority (J&K LSA). The programme was effectively coordinated under the administrative leadership of Shazia Tabasum, Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority, and Abdul Nasir, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Ganderbal, with institutional support from Sheikh Babar Hussain, Secretary, DLSA Ganderbal.
During the course of the programme, focused deliberations were held on critical issues affecting the rights and welfare of the girl child, including the prohibition of child marriage, prevention of gender-based discrimination, eradication of child labour and curbing of child trafficking, all of which constitute serious violations of fundamental and statutory rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India and allied legislations.
The resource persons delivered comprehensive lectures on the relevant legal regime governing the protection of Girl child. They elucidated the scope, object and penal consequences under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, thereby sensitising the participants about the legal remedies and enforcement mechanisms available under law. They also elaborated the constitutional provisions regarding the welfare of the girl child and their protection.
The resource persons further elaborated upon the statutory right to free legal aid and legal representation as guaranteed under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and apprised the participants about the functioning of Legal Services Institutions at district and tehsil levels, including the availability of legal counselling, legal assistance and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for women and children without any financial impediment.
Supervisor, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Mehmooda also addressed the gathering and elaborated upon the significance of National Girl Child Day. She emphasised the crucial role of nutrition, health care, education and community support in ensuring the holistic development of the girl child and highlighted the importance of collective responsibility of families, institutions and society at large in safeguarding the dignity and rights of girls.
Further, the participants were sensitised about various welfare and social security schemes formulated by the Government of India and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir for the benefit of the girl child, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Ladli Beti Scheme, Balika Samriddhi Yojana and other education and health-oriented incentive schemes aimed at ensuring financial security, educational advancement and overall socio-economic empowerment of the girl child.
The programme concluded with an interactive session, wherein the participants were encouraged to actively discharge their civic and social obligations in safeguarding the rights of the girl child and to ensure strict compliance with the legal framework aimed at eliminating discrimination, exploitation and injustice against children, thereby strengthening the rule of law and access to justice at the grassroots level.
