NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, 2025 seeks to improve legal awareness, outreach and delivery of legal services by adopting a community-based outreach-driven approach

**Executive Summary** The NALSA SAMVAD Scheme, launched by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in April 2025, aims to improve legal awareness, outreach, and delivery of legal services to Marginalized, Vulnerable Adivasis and Denotified/Nomadic Tribes. The scheme focuses on a community-based outreach-driven approach and the creation of dedicated SAMVAD Units at the District level. It also focuses on early legal intervention and assistance with documentation and entitlement claims. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Objective:** Improve access to justice for Scheduled Tribes (STs), Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), and De-Notified/Nomadic Tribes (DNTs). * **SAMVAD Units:** * Creation of dedicated SAMVAD Units at the District level. * Identification of tribal communities in each Taluk. * Preparation of annual action plans. * Deployment of trained panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers from tribal areas. * Provision of legal assistance related to land and forest rights, displacement, rehabilitation, documentation, welfare schemes, and social security. * Conduct legal awareness programs, door-to-door outreach, legal literacy sessions, and legal services camps. * Coordination with Gram Sabhas and local institutions. * **Legal Intervention & Entitlements:** Focuses on early legal intervention, assistance in documentation and entitlement claims, and facilitation of access to government welfare schemes. * **Implementation:** * 690 SAMVAD Units have been constituted at the district level. * Nationwide institutional coverage through State and District Legal Services Authorities. * **Reporting:** Structured monitoring and reporting framework with quarterly reports from Taluk Legal Services Committees, District Legal Services Authorities, and State Legal Services Authorities. * **Oversight:** Reports are consolidated and reviewed by NALSA to ensure uniform implementation and accountability. * **Revised roadmap:** NALSA has issued a revised roadmap for consolidated biennial reports from all State Legal Services Authorities. **Impact Analysis** **Stakeholder: Vulnerable Adivasi and Denotified/Nomadic Communities** * **Impact:** Improved legal awareness and access to justice, enabling them to overcome systemic barriers in accessing legal remedies and welfare entitlements. * **Action Required:** Engage with SAMVAD Units and participate in awareness programs to understand their rights and available legal services. **Stakeholder: Taluk Legal Services Committees, District Legal Services Authorities, and State Legal Services Authorities** * **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the NALSA SAMVAD Scheme at their respective levels. * **Action Required:** Submit quarterly reports in standardized formats, implement scheme activities, and ensure effective coordination with SAMVAD Units. Also, State Legal Services Authorities have to create consolidated biennial reports as per revised roadmap. **Stakeholder: NALSA** * **Impact:** Responsible for overall coordination, monitoring, and accountability of the NALSA SAMVAD Scheme at the national level. * **Action Required:** Consolidate and review reports, ensure uniform implementation, and provide necessary guidance and support to the implementing agencies.

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