DLSA B’gam organizes Legal Awareness Webinar for Persons with Mental Illness, Intellectual Disabilities

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Budgam : District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Budgam, under the aegis of the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA), organized a Special Legal Awareness Webinar through its Legal Services Unit for Persons with Mental Illness and Intellectual Disabilities.
The programme was held under the leadership of O.P. Bhagat, Chairman DLSA Budgam. The event was coordinated and conducted under the guidance of Nusrat Ali Hakak, Secretary, DLSA Budgam, in collaboration with District Hospital Budgam.
In his address, Lateef Ahmad Khan, Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel (LADC) Budgam, emphasized that the primary objective of the programme was to raise awareness among individuals with mental illness and intellectual disabilities- and their families about their legal rights and safeguards against abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
The session focused on key provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, as discussed during the webinar, is a progressive, rights-based legislation aimed at providing accessible mental healthcare while ensuring the dignity of persons living with mental illness. A notable feature of the Act is the decriminalization of suicide, emphasizing care and rehabilitation over punishment.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, was described as a landmark legislation that aligns India’s legal framework with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Act guarantees equality, non-discrimination, and dignity for persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual impairments.
The webinar witnessed enthusiastic participation from legal professionals, para-legal volunteers, social workers, caregivers, medical staff, and members of civil society.
In her remarks, Secretary DLSA Budgam highlighted the importance of inclusive access to justice and emphasized the transformative power of legal awareness in empowering marginalized and vulnerable communities.
The event concluded with an interactive session and free legal counseling, followed by the distribution of Information, Education & Communication (IEC) materials designed to help individuals better understand and exercise their legal rights.