**Summary:**
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Nari Adalat scheme as a pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti during the 15th Finance Commission period. This centrally sponsored scheme, with 100% central funding, aims to provide alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counseling, and evidence-based decision-making at the Gram Panchayat level.
In FY 2023-24, the scheme was piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Based on proposals received, expansion to other regions has been approved: 10 Gram Panchayats each in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Maharashtra and 5 Gram Panchayats each in the UTs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. A proposal from the State Government of Odisha is pending.
Funding is allocated for out-of-pocket expenses related to organizing meetings and for badges/uniforms for Nari Adalat members. The Ministry monitors the scheme through regular review meetings with State and UT Administrative Secretaries, including annual Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings. Field visits by MWCD officers are also conducted to assess implementation, identify challenges, and address operational gaps.
Key Entities Referenced
Nari Adalat Scheme: A pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti Mission aimed at protecting women's rights through alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, and decision-making at the Gram Panchayat level.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development of women and children.
Mission Shakti Mission: A scheme under which Nari Adalat is introduced as a pilot initiative, aiming to empower women through various interventions.
Sambal: A vertical under Mission Shakti Mission, within which the Nari Adalat initiative is being piloted.
Fifteenth Finance Commission: The finance commission period during which Nari Adalat has been introduced as a pilot initiative.
Gram Panchayat: The village level council where the Nari Adalat scheme aims to offer its services.
Assam: A state in India where the Nari Adalat scheme is being piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats.
Jammu and Kashmir: A Union Territory in India where the Nari Adalat scheme is being piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2222
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
NARI ADALAT SCHEME
2222: DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is implementing a project named Nari Adalat for the protection of
women's rights, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed the results of the pilot project of Nari Adalat Scheme,
if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any proposal is pending with the Government to implement Nari Adalat project in
the Ashta Lakshmi regions of the country i.e. North Eastern States including Odisha, if so,
the details thereof; and
(d) whether there is any proposal to provide financial assistance to the State Government for the
implementation of the said scheme, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Nari Adalat has been introduced as a pilot initiative under the Sambal vertical of
Mission Shakti Mission in the 15th Finance Commission period. The scheme aims to offer services
such as alternative dispute resolution, grievance redressal, counselling, and decision-making based
on evidence at Gram Panchayat level.
The scheme is demand driven and piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in the State of Assam and the
Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in 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, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim, Maharashtra and 5 Gram Panchayats each in 2 UTs namely Andaman and Nicobar Islandsand Dadra Nagar Haveli/Daman& Diu have been approved for implementation on pilot basis. No
proposal has yet been received from State Government of Odisha.
Nari Adalat is Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 100 percent Central Share. Under the component,
fund for out of pocket expenses for organising the meetings and badges/uniform for members of Nari
Adalat have been provisioned.
The Ministry reviews the scheme through regular review meetings conducted by senior officials of
the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), in coordination with Administrative
Secretaries of States and UTs which includes annual Programme Approval Board (PAB) meetings.
Further, field visits are also carried out by MWCD officers to various States/UTs to assess ground-
level implementation, identify challenges, and address any operational or compliance gaps.
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