The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Bandipora on Thursday organised a day-long awareness programme on legal services to differently-abled children at the Conference Hall of Mini Secretariat Bandipora.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the Department of Education under guidance of Principal District and Sessions Judge (PD&SJ), Bandipora, Mohammad Ibrahim Wani, Chairperson District Legal Services Authority.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad along with Chairman DLSA Mohammad Ibrahim Wani, Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Quyoom Mir inaugurated the programme.District Programme officer, Mohd Ashraf Hakak, Secretary, DLSA Fariqa Nazir, Chairman TLSC (Munsiff) Bandipora, Chief Education Officer, Bandipora, Chief Prosecution Officer, Bandipora, DySP Bandipora, President Bar Association, Bandipora, District Social Welfare Officer, Bandipora, Block Medical Officer, Bandipora, Ex. Officer, Municipal Council, Bandipora were also present on the occasion.
PD&SJ while delivering the inaugural address said that the aim of today’s programme is to create awareness in the community about differently-abled people and how to be sensitive to people with disability.
After the inaugural address, a singing competition was held in which 09 disabled students took part to demonstrate their skill. The competition was judged by Showkat Ahmad Sheikh (Teacher), Sajad Ahmad Malik (Teacher) and Feroz Iqbal (Teacher).
The DC while addressing the gathering highlighted the healthcare issues of the disabled children and said that despite improvement in the health care system of the country, the situation of differently abled children remains deplorable, particularly in rural areas and among the lower socio-economic population and that much needs to be done to improve their situation.
“Differently abled children in India are subjected to multiple deprivations and limited opportunities in several dimensions of their lives. Some of these include, not being enrolled to schools, lower employment rates, limited awareness of entitlements and services available and lack of social welfare support,” he said and stressed on the promotion of primary and higher education of the Visually Impaired, Disabled and Underprivileged children.
He said, efforts are being taken to address all these issues for the upliftment of this section of society.Secretary, DLSA Bandipora Fariqa Nazir delivered a speech on constitutional and fundamental rights of the Differently Abled Children and highlighted the various legal benefits that can be provided to Differently Abled Children under the Scheme, 2021 for Disabled Children.
The programme concluded with prize distribution, Certificates and medals among the participants.The programme was attended by Panel Lawyers, Staff Members of Education Department Bandipora, Staff members of DLSA Bandipora, PLVs and other civil society members.