ITANAGAR, 20 Jul: The Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority (APSLSA) on Monday launched a 40-hour mediation training programme under the aegis of the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee (MCPC) of the Supreme Court of India.

The six-day training programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of judicial officers and legal professionals in the field of mediation, and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in Arunachal Pradesh.

The inaugural session was attended by Gauhati High Court judges Justice Kardak Ete and Justice Budi Habung, and APSLSA Member Secretary Tadu Tamang, along with legal professionals from across the state.

Tamang in his address reiterated the APSLSA’s commitment to promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across Arunachal. He stated that the intensive 40-hour training programme aims to equip participants with the knowledge, ethics, communication techniques, and practical skills required to conduct mediation proceedings efficiently and effectively.

Justice Habung underscored the significance of developing a robust pool of trained mediators to ensure effective implementation of mediation as envisaged under the legal framework. He encouraged the participants to actively engage in the training and acquire the practical skills necessary for facilitating successful mediation.

Justice Ete emphasised the growing importance of mediation as an effective, accessible, and people-centric mechanism for resolving disputes. He highlighted that mediation not only reduces the burden on courts but also fosters harmony by enabling parties to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions.

The training programme will continue over the next four days, covering various aspects of mediation, including communication skills, negotiation techniques, ethics, confidentiality, and practical mediation procedures under the guidance of Pusshp Gupta, VP  Thankachan, and Neena Khare, senior trainers from the MCPC.