NALSA (Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation)

Scheme, 2015
Under Section 4 (b) of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, NALSA, has been obligated
to formulate the most effective and economical schemes for the purpose of making legal
services available to each and everyone under the provisions of the Act. There can be no
doubt that victims of commercial sexual exploitation, whether trafficked or voluntarily
involved in such activities are highly marginalised without any knowledge of availability of
the rights and benefits which are made available for them. Such individuals face a great
amount of trauma and various security and livelihood issues even after their rescue which
resulted in NALSA to formulate a scheme for the benefit of these individuals along with
specifying the various roles of NALSA and State Legal Authorities regarding this issue. The
scheme was called “NALSA (Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation)
Scheme, 2015”. The objective of the scheme is to provide legal services to address the
concerns of victims of trafficking including women of all age groups and at every stage: i.e.
prevention, rescue and rehabilitation. The thrust of the scheme is to provide economic and
social pathways for these marginalised groups so that they are socially included and thus get
all social protection available to an ordinary citizen, such intervention of the legal services
authorities is to ensure the protection of the dignity of the victims which is as much their
fundamental right to a life as of any other citizen. Marginalised voluntary sex workers and
children and adults who are trafficked for the purpose are included in the ambit of this
scheme. The strategy of the scheme for legal services is guided by a 360-degree approach
which include all concerned parties and ensures that an action plan is developed for
prevention, rescue and rehabilitation all together while documenting and following up each
case for at least 3 Years until reintegration is complete. The action plan is developed to be
able to use the existing welfare schemes of the Government, both Central as well as the
State while strengthening social security, social development and welfare in order to cover
all aspects of the scheme. Assistance from NGOs/CBOs is also taken to ensure a more
effective and efficient implementation and expansion of the scheme. DLSAs are involved in
this process until the benefit reaches the beneficiary. Available Schemes: -
I. ICDS or Childcare development--- 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers
(as care givers)
II. Food security or ration cards
III. Social security or Pension for the elderly women
IV. Educational schemes incl. midday meal, bridge schools, residential schools of Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan, Sabala; scholarships for the primary, secondary and higher
education from Social Welfare Dept. for adolescents and specifically girls.
V. Livelihood- Skill Development, Financial Inclusion, Micro Enterprise- from
SC/ST/BC/Minority and Women’s Development Corporation and CSR funds from
government and public sector undertakings.
VI. Housing or Subsidy for Construction and Land Pattas from Urban Development,
Housing Corporation.
VII. Universal entitlements- Legal Literacy, Para Legal Volunteers, Legal services clinics to
ensure free legal aid and protection.
The Role of LSA’s in this scheme is essential. Their main role is to maintain protection
convergence along with the District Collector who will maintain Administrative convergence
and other community organisations or structures which ensure the successful
implementation of the scheme. Other roles of SLSAs/DLSAs are: -
 Bridging the Gap: between all depts. and the concerned individuals.
 Enhancing Engagement: bringing together Community organisations and its
members and government-department-district and sub-district admin.
 Facilitating Participation and Ownership: Led by DLSA in collaboration with
community orgs. through community meetings and camps.
 Sensitisation: Enabling all depts. And institutions to learn about dynamics of
community, remove misconceptions.
 Forging Partnerships: With Community Orgs. and NGOs working at the ground level
regarding this issue, Dept. of Women and Child Development (especially Child
Protection/ Welfare Committees and Anti Human Trafficking Units) and the DLSA at
the micro level and other concerned ministries and departments at the macro level.
The Action Plan to be followed under this scheme is as follows: -
 DLSA to reach out to NGOs/CBOs. SLSAs to contact UNICEF or UNODC, Dept. of
Women and Child, Rural Livelihood Missions. Assistance of The National Aids Control
Organisation(NACO) and the State/District Aids control societies. Info. regarding
trafficking as well as sex workers to be obtained.
 Catalyse inter departmental convergence both at State as well as District levels.
 DLSA to map out vulnerable areas and population with assistance, preventive
strategies to be put in motion, spreading awareness regarding the scheme, law and
the topics concerning them.
 List of panel lawyers and social workers to be created by SLSAs/DLSAs. PLVs to
ensure due diligence regarding the scheme and facilitate interaction of PLVs with
admin. heads whenever necessary for final realisation.
 Special training/sensitisation given to Police Stations under SLSAs/DLSAs. Judicial
orders’ compliance to be ensured. PLVs must inform authority regarding cases.
 Understand communities and difficulties faced with making schemes available to sex
workers. Organise public hearings regarding this issue where public members would
“depose” or relate experiences with governance at different levels. Admin. heads of
DSLAs/SLAs, Judicial Authorities, Govt. officials of concerned departments, Police
and protection officers, senior and panel advocates should be involved in such
programmes.
 Encourage filing cases and other legal services available to the community after such
deposition meetings. Enable target groups to deal and face their day to day
difficulties. Provide legal aid and counselling services where family members are
involved.
 Train Para Legal Volunteers as per NALSA module, accredit the same, they can act as
front line workers of the authority. Ensure representation of all blocks.
 Asses the need for schemes in the community.
 SLSA’s/DLSAs should take into cognisance the mechanism already available for
prevention of such activities and work along with the same to implement the same.
Special awareness programmes should be organised for the VLCPC to keep a watch
on the children. Teachers, PLVs, Anganwadi and Health workers should be involved.
Reporting and follow up of missing children should be done.
 Student Legal Literacy Clubs should be encouraged should be encouraged to write
and talk about such issues and become peer educators on these topics.
 Provide alternative livelihood opportunities to such women, strengthen existing
social groups formed for these issues.
 Protocol for the One Stop Crisis Centre made available to all concerned parties,
monitor and effectively implement rescue and rehabilitation programmes, ensure
panel lawyers and PLVs are available throughout the legal process, appropriate
security and environment to the victim to be provided.
 Develop sound Management Information Systems by all SLSAs and DLSAs for
recording, assessment and follow up of each activity and assistance of all
stakeholders under this scheme for at least 3 years.
 Make all above provisions available to transgender as well.