DLSA Gurgaon sets up ‘Asha' team to tackle child marriages
Gurgaon: The district legal services authority (DLSA) has established a special unit named ASHA (awareness, support, help, and action) to prevent child marriages and rehabilitate victims.
ASHA will focus on awareness campaigns, legal assistance, psychological support, rescue operations, and victim rehabilitation. It will also facilitate the enrolment of victims into foster care under Ministry of Women and Child Development's Mission Vatsalya, and will be headed by additional principal judge (family court). DLSA secretary, panel advocates, para-legal volunteers, members of child welfare committee, police liaison officers, officers from district child protection unit and representatives from the departments of education and health will also be a part of the unit.
ASHA was formed following Supreme Court's directions in the case Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action & Anr vs Union of India. Under part IX of the judgment, SC directed NALSA to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) laying out detailed guidelines for legal aid and long-term rehabilitation of victims. This SOP was meant to serve as a reference guide for lawyers and law enforcement officers.
In compliance with the court's directives, NALSA formulated "standard operating procedure for prevention, protection, and rehabilitation of child marriages".
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For an effective implementation of this SOP, DLSA came out with ASHA, said Rajat Verma, secretary, DLSA Gurgaon.
The unit was disseminating information about child protection helplines and portals, said officials, adding that NGO Shakti Vahini was also extending full support to it.
"The SOP and ASHA will work hand-in-hand to eliminate child marriage and ensure a dignified rehabilitation of victims," said Verma.
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