Lucknow, 26 July (HS): Under the Child-Friendly Legal

Services for Children Scheme, 2024 implemented by the National Legal

Services Authority (NALSA), free, accessible, safe and child-friendly legal aid

is being provided to every child. Jeevak Kumar Singh, Secretary-in-Charge of

the District Legal Services Authority, Lucknow, stated that this scheme is for

every child under the age of 18. Under this scheme, free legal aid is provided

to children in conflict with the law, children in need of care and protection,

children affected by child labor, human trafficking, abuse, sexual violence,

child marriage, the disabled, orphans, abandoned children, missing children,

and children living in other vulnerable and sensitive circumstances.

He explained that children are being assisted at every stage of court

proceedings through trained panel lawyers, Legal Aid Defense Councils (LADCs),

Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs), and other trained legal personnel. Arrangements

have also been made for counseling, rehabilitation, compensation, access to

government benefits, and coordination with various departments as needed. Timely

and effective legal aid is being ensured to eligible children through District

Legal Services Authority, Taluka Legal Services Committees, Front Office,

Police Stations, Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC),

Child Care Institutions, District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), One Stop Centre

and other related institutions.

Jeevak Kumar Singh appealed to the public that if any child

needs legal aid or protection, they can contact the District Legal Services

Authority, Lucknow, the nearest Taluka Legal Services Committee, the Legal Aid

Helpline 15100, or the Child Helpline 1098. He said that legal aid for children

is not a facility, but their constitutional and legal right.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi