Women-Only Courts For Alternative Resolution

• Posted on July 9, 2023
• Daily Current Affairs

Women-Only Courts For Alternative Resolution

Context: 

Women-only courts will be established at the village level as an alternative conflict resolution forum for matters like domestic violence and property rights, as well as to challenge the patriarchal system, as part of an effort that will be launched by the Union administration.

What is Nari Adalat and how is it going to impact society?

• Objective: The Nari Adalat programme seeks to give women in India a different means of resolving grievances at the Gramme Panchayat level, including cases of harassment, subversion, and restriction of rights or privileges.
• Women Collectives: To create women collectives, or Nari Adalats, committed and well-respected women will be picked. These groups will deal with the social, economic, and cultural problems that women in their various regions confront.
• Awareness-Building: During the first year, a campaign will be launched to inform women about their legal and constitutional rights as well as their entitlements to various schemes and programmes.
• Training: In the second year, committed and well-respected women will be found and given in-depth instruction in laws and programmes that pertain to women. They will be more prepared to deal with women’s issues and offer mediation as an alternate dispute resolution method thanks to this training.
• Composition of Women collectives: Women collectives will be made up of seven to eleven members who will work together to handle women’s complaints and connect them with the duty bearers. Half of the members will be elected representatives of the gram panchayat, while the other half will include teachers, doctors, and social workers nominated by the villagers.
• Awareness and Education: In addition to addressing specific situations, the Nari Adalat will promote knowledge of government initiatives as well as women’s legal rights and privileges. The objective is to increase awareness and provide women with the power to exercise their rights.
• Non-Legal Status: Important to keep in mind is that the women-only courts will not have any legal standing. Instead of acting as official legal institutions, their main role is to offer a forum for conflict resolution, counselling, and awareness-raising.
• Nyaya Sakhis and Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi: Individuals referred to as Nyaya Sakhis, or legal friends, shall be included in the Nari Adalat. The gramme panchayat will propose them or choose them. The Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi, or chief legal friend, will be selected from among the Nyaya Sakhis to serve as the head of the Nari Adalat. The head will typically hold the position for six months.

Where will it be implemented across the country, and who is working with whom to carry out this initiative?

• Launch on a Pilot Basis: In August, the programme will be implemented in 50 villages each in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir. The pilot aims to evaluate the viability and efficacy of the women-only courts before expanding the programme nationally.
• Ministry and Collaboration: Under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, which focuses on women’s safety, security, and empowerment, the programme will be managed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Rural Development, and Common Service Centres run by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology would be required for the implementation process.

What is Mission Shakti and what are its objectives?

• ‘Mission Shakti’ is an integrated programme for women’s empowerment with the following objectives:

1. 1. Providing for the safety, security, and empowerment of women.
   2. addressing topics that concern women at all stages of life.
   3. equalising women as partners in national development.
   4. encouraging citizen ownership and convergence in development driven by women.

• Implementation Period: The 15th Finance Commission, which runs from 2021–2022 to 2025–2026, will implement the plan. The scheme’s rules went into effect on April 1st, 2022.

What are the two sub-schemes of Mission Shakti?

A) Sambal Sub-Scheme (Safety and Security): 

• One Stop Centre (OSC): Offers assistance and support to women who have been victims of violence.
• Women Helpline (WHL): Women’s Helpline is a hotline where women in need can call to get support.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao(BBBP): BBBP is an initiative that promotes the welfare and education of girls.
• Nari Adalats: Nari Adalats are women’s organisations that support gender equality in society and families and alternative dispute resolution.

 B) Samarthya Sub-Scheme (Empowerment): 

• Ujjwala: Offers women living in poverty-free LPG connections.
• Swadhar Greh: A programme that offers refuge, rehabilitation, and support to women in challenging situations.
• Working women’s hostel: Accommodations for working women are available at the working women’s hostel.
• National Creche Scheme: Facilities for child development and care for children of working moms are provided by the National Creche Scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit programme that offers financial aid to expectant and nursing mothers.
• Gap Funding for Economic Empowerment: A brand-new element created to offer financial assistance for programmes promoting women’s economic empowerment.

What are the advantages of having a Nari Adalat?

• Accessible and Localised Resolution: Nari Adalats give women a place to voice their complaints and seek redress in their communities. It becomes easier for women to seek redress by lowering barriers like distance, expense, and cultural inhibitions by bringing judicial procedures closer to women’s communities.
• Women’s Empowerment: Nari Adalats are essential in empowering women by educating people about their legal privileges and rights. Women are enabled to exercise their rights, confront discriminatory practices, and assert themselves in a variety of spheres of life by equipping them with knowledge and information.
• Alternative Dispute settlement: Nari Adalats supports mediation and other forms of conflict settlement. They offer a venue for counselling, awareness-raising, and conflict resolution, which can assist to settle disagreements more amicably and with the active participation of the persons concerned. This strategy can encourage reconciliation and be quicker, less combative, and less burdensome for women.
• Strengthening of Women’s Collectives: Nari Adalats help to build women’s collectives by giving women a place to congregate, talk about their problems, and support one another. This group effort fosters solidarity and mutual empowerment while assisting in tackling social, economic, and cultural issues that women confront locally.
• Advocacy and Awareness-Building: Nari Adalats also function as forums for these activities. They not only address particular instances but also spread awareness of government efforts and women’s legal advantages. A culture of gender equality and justice is promoted as a result, raising awareness among women and communities.
• Complementary to Legal System: Legal institutions are complemented by Nari Adalats, which provide an additional forum for resolving disputes even though they lack legal standing. They can reduce the burden on the formal legal systems and give women access to justice that is more accessible and centred on the community.
• Concluding, The major goals of Nari Adalats are to empower women, promote awareness of their rights, and offer a venue for non-judicial dispute resolution. It also seeks to ensure efficient service delivery, solicit feedback from the general population, and improve existing programmes.