Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced Nari Adalat as a pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti for the 15th Finance Commission period. This demand-driven scheme is piloted in selected Gram Panchayats across multiple states and Union Territories starting from FY 2023-24. Nari Adalats aim to offer alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, and evidence-based decision-making at the Gram Panchayat level.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Structure and Membership:**
* Nari Adalats are structured through Women Collectives at the panchayat level.
* Each collective has seven to nine members called Nyaya Sakhis, led by a Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi.
* **Responsibilities:**
* State/District authorities manage the Nari Adalats, including member selection and nomination.
* Gram Panchayats, chaired by the Sarpanch and attended by BDOSDM representatives, select socially respected women as Nyaya Sakhis.
* **Functioning and Scope:**
* Nari Adalats offer alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, and decision-making at the Gram Panchayat level.
* Nari Adalat is not a formal court, and women can seek legal recourse as needed.
* Meetings are held fortnightly at designated locations, with the possibility of ad-hoc meetings if necessary.
* **Implementation and Funding:**
* The scheme is piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and Jammu & Kashmir from FY 2023-24.
* Pilot implementation has been approved for additional Gram Panchayats across 16 States and 2 UTs as per received proposals.
* Nari Adalat is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 100% Central funding.
* State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for overall implementation.
* **Monitoring and Review:**
* The Programme Approval Board monitors progress with States/UTs annually.
* The Ministry reviews the scheme through meetings, video conferencing, and field visits.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments/UT Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for the overall management, functioning, and implementation of the Nari Adalat scheme within their jurisdiction.
* *Action Required:* Identify, select, and nominate members for Nari Adalats and ensure the scheme's objectives are met.
* **Gram Panchayats:**
* *Impact:* Involved in selecting Nyaya Sakhis and providing meeting venues for Nari Adalats.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the selection of Nyaya Sakhis and facilitate the functioning of Nari Adalats.
* **Women (especially at the Gram Panchayat level):**
* *Impact:* Benefit from alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, and counselling services offered by Nari Adalats.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the services provided by Nari Adalats to resolve disputes and seek justice.
* **Ministry of Women and Child Development:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall scheme implementation and monitoring.
* *Action Required:* Continuously review the scheme through meetings, video conferencing, and field visits to States/UTs from time to time.
Key Entities Referenced
Nari Adalat: A pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti for alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, and decision-making at the Gram Panchayat level.
Mission Shakti: A scheme under which Nari Adalat has been introduced as a pilot initiative.
Sambal: A vertical of Mission Shakti under which Nari Adalat is introduced.
Nyaya Sakhis: Members of the Women Collectives structured at the panchayat level in Nari Adalats, responsible for activities.
Gram Panchayat: The local self-government at the village level where Nari Adalat meetings are held and Nyaya Sakhis are selected.
Assam: A State in India where Nari Adalat is being piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats.
Jammu and Kashmir: A Union Territory in India where Nari Adalat is being piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats.
15th Finance Commission: The finance commission period under which the Nari Adalat has been introduced as pilot initiative.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2190
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
ASSESSMENT OF NARI ADALATS
2190# Shri Raja Ram Singh:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of Nari Adalats in the country, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of cases addressed in these adalats along with the representatives
operating in the said adalats;
(c) whether the Ministry has constituted a committee to assess the impact of said adalats
in the States where they are already operational, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any further mechanisms are available for women to seek justice if issue
remain unresolved at this level, is so, the details thereof;
(e) whether the Ministry has also set up a grievance redressal office to file complaints
about the proceedings of these adalats, if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the details of stakeholders involved in setting up of the said adalats along with the
consultations held with them?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (f) Nari Adalat has been introduced as a pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of
Mission Shakti for 15th Finance Commission period. Nari Adalat are structured through
Women Collectives formed at the panchayat level and each collective includes seven to
nine members known as Nyaya Sakhis, with one as the Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi to lead and
coordinate activities. The concerned State/District is responsible for the overall
management and functioning of the Nari Adalat, including the identification, selection, and
nomination of its members. The Gram Panchayat, in a meeting chaired by the Panchayat
President/Sarpanch and attended by the BDO/SDM or their representative, selects socially
respected and committed women to serve as members, known as Nyaya Sakhis.The scheme aims to offer services such as alternative dispute resolution, grievance
redressal, counselling, and decision-making based on evidence at Gram Panchayat level.
However Nari Adalat is not a formal court and hence any aggrieved woman can and shall
always have recourse to legal mechanism as per her need.
Meetings of Nari Adalat are held fortnightly at the Gram Panchayat Office, Government
Primary School, Common Service Centres, Anganwadi Centres, or any other place
designated by the State Government or Union Territories to address the cases brought to
Nari Adalat. However, if the head of the Nari Adalat deems it necessary, meeting may be
convened at any time.
The scheme is demand driven and piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in the State of
Assam and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir from FY 2023-24. As per the proposal
received, 10 Gram Panchayats each in 16 States namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka,
Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Tamil
Nadu, Tripura, Uttrakhand, Sikkim, Maharashtra and 5 Gram Panchayats each in 2 UTs
namely Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Dadra Nagar Haveli/Daman& Diu have been
approved for implementation of scheme on pilot basis.
Nari Adalat is Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 100 percent Central Share and the overall
implementation of scheme lies with the State Governments/UT Administrations. Further,
once in a year, the Programme Approval Board monitors with States/UTs, the progress of
the overall activities of scheme and review status of achievement of objectives. Apart from
this, officials of the Ministry continuously review the scheme through meetings, video
conferencing and by making field visits to States/UTs from time to time.
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