The Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, in collaboration with the South-East District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Saket Courts Complex, under the aegis of NALSA, successfully organized an awareness programme on “Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) and Free Legal Services” as part of the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s “100 Days – Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” initiative under the NALSA Scheme ASHA (Awareness, Support, Help & Action).
The programme commenced with an opening address by the Dean, Faculty of Law, Dr. Ghulam Yazdani, who emphasized the pivotal role of legal education and legal awareness in addressing deep-rooted social issues such as child marriage. He highlighted the responsibility of law students and academic institutions in contributing to social reform and ensuring access to justice for marginalized communities.
The session was thereafter carried forward by the esteemed guests. Ms. Priyanka Raina, Legal Aid Counsel, South-East Delhi Legal Services Authority, delivered a comprehensive and insightful address explaining the role and functioning of Legal Services Authorities and the significance of free legal aid in India. She elaborated on various provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, including preventive, protective, and remedial mechanisms, and underscored how free legal services play a crucial role in the identification, prevention, and redressal of cases relating to child marriage. Her address sensitized students to the practical dimensions of the law and the importance of legal aid in safeguarding the rights of children and women.
An interactive deliberative session subsequently took place, during which Ms. Priyanka Raina responded comprehensively to the various queries raised by the participants. The session was marked by active and meaningful participation from students and research scholars, culminating in a structured and intellectually stimulating discussion on the practical challenges, statutory remedies, and institutional frameworks involved in the prevention of child marriage and the effective delivery of free legal services.
The anchoring of the programme was efficiently and engagingly conducted by Ms. Khushi Anwar and Mr. Muhammad Shaghil Ansari, students of the 3rd Year B.A. LL.B., whose coordination ensured the smooth flow of the event.
The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks, expressing sincere gratitude to Dean, Faculty of Law, Dr. Ghulam Yazdani, Chief Proctor and Coordinator of the Legal Aid Committee, Dr. Asad Malik, and Programme Coordinator, Dr. Alisha Khatun, for their guidance, cooperation and support in organizing the programme. As a token of appreciation and commitment to sustainability, the esteemed guests were felicitated with saplings by the Dean, symbolizing growth, responsibility, and hope for a child-marriage-free society.
