DLSA Kupwara conducts Door-to-Door Sensitization Campaign under “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” Initiative

KUPWARA: District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kupwara has commenced an intensive and structured door-to-door awareness and sensitization campaign across District Kupwara as part of the 100-Day Action Plan under the national initiative “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat”, in strict compliance with the NALSA, ASHA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 

The campaign has been planned and undertaken with an objective of achieving 100% household coverage across the district, ensuring that no household, habitation, ward, or village remains uncovered at any stage of the campaign. On the first day of implementation, field activities were initiated across multiple villages and each household visited was individually covered and sensitized through direct interaction.

Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs) deputed by DLSA Kupwara are functioning as nodal coordinators at the village level, responsible for structured outreach, documentation, monitoring, and reporting in accordance with the prescribed SOPs.

The campaign is being executed with active and documented support from Teachers, ASHA Workers, and Anganwadi Workers, who are assisting in household identification, early detection of vulnerable families, tracking of adolescent girls, and verification of risk indicators.

Ward Members, Lumberdars and Chokidars  are providing essential logistical and community-level assistance, including facilitation of access to households, dissemination of local intelligence, and strengthening village-level vigilance mechanisms. The coordinated involvement of all grassroots stakeholders has ensured systematic coverage and effective field-level implementation.

The campaign is being implemented with active administrative and institutional support from the officers and departments concerned. The Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara; Senior Superintendent of Police, Kupwara and Handwara; all Tehsildars of District Kupwara; Chief Medical Officer; Chief Education Officer; District Programme Officer (ICDS); District Child Protection Officer; Chairmen of Tehsil Legal Services Committees; and other concerned officers are extending necessary cooperation at their respective levels.

Directions have been issued for seamless inter-departmental coordination, field-level facilitation, and prompt response in matters relating to prevention, reporting, and intervention of child marriage cases, thereby ensuring effective implementation and strict compliance with the objectives of the 100-Day Action Plan.

During the door-to-door visits, households are being sensitized regarding the statutory prohibitions and penal consequences of child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the adverse physical, psychological, and educational impacts of early marriage, and the mandatory reporting obligations under applicable child protection laws. Clear guidance is being provided on emergency and legal intervention mechanisms, including Childline 1098 and the NALSA Legal Aid Helpline 15100, to enable immediate reporting and timely intervention.

The campaign is being closely monitored to ensure full district-wide saturation, adherence to prescribed reporting protocols, and prompt escalation of any suspected or imminent cases.  DLSA Kupwara will continue the door-to-door outreach in a phased, systematic, and verifiable manner until complete household-level coverage of the entire district is conclusively achieved, in line with the objectives of the 100-Day Action Plan.