Odisha to launch 'Nari Adalats' for women's grievance redressal at panchayat level

Bhubaneswar: State govt will launch ‘Nari Adalats’ (women’s courts) with a pilot initiative at Govindapalli gram panchayat in Malkangiri district soon. The initiative aims to provide women with an alternative grievance redressal mechanism at the gram panchayat level in cases of harassment, violence and denial of rights and entitlement.The women and child development department recently asked the Malkangiri administration to select members for the court. ‘Nari Adalats’ will be opened in 10 gram panchayats across the state in subsequent months.Officials said ‘Nari Adalats’ are a component of the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti and will be structured through women collectives at the panchayat level. Each of these collectives will include seven to nine members known as ‘Nyaya Sakhis’, and one among them — ‘Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi’ — will lead the initiative. The members will be selected through gram sabhas, and the district magistrate will look into the overall functioning of the courts.The courts will support women and girls requiring assistance from the local community. The scheme guidelines stated that the major function of a ‘Nari Adalat’ will be to raise awareness about the legal rights and entitlements of women. Additionally, it will take on the responsibility of resolving cases which involve women under their jurisdiction.Initially, the courts will be launched in specific panchayats in Malkangiri, Balangir, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada and Rayagada districts, which are led by elected women representatives. For a year, ‘Nyaya Sakhis’ will create awareness among women regarding legal and constitutional rights and entitlements under various schemes and programmes.While the courts will guide and support women through the process of case filing, court procedure and medical and psychological assistance, they will also hear the opposite parties and examine evidence related to the cases.The collectives will arrive at a solution by using measures like counselling, negotiation and mediation tactics, or an evidence-based approach, to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.