Context: Recently, Ministry of Women and Child Development will implement “naari adalat” (women’s courts) led by women’s collectives in the country in a phased manner as an alternate grievance redressal mechanism to resolve “petty” disputes at the gram panchayat level.

About Naari Adalat

• Naari Adalat scheme is part of the umbrella scheme Mission Shakti, which comprises of sub-schemes for women’s safety and empowerment.

• Naari Adalat (Women’s Courts) will be implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

• It will be led by women’s collectives in the country in a phased manner as an alternative grievance redressal mechanism to resolve “petty” disputes at the gram panchayat level.

• These panels of women are usually from socially or/and economically backward sections who understand the matrix involved at the grass-root level. In order to further strengthen the functioning of this system, they are given paralegal trainings.

• It has been added as a component to Mission Shakti to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in society and within families.

• Working - The panel of women adjudicators who are commonly known as Nyaay Sakhis (friends of justice) adjudicate the complaints filed either by the aggrieved women herself or by her family or friends.

• These courts strictly follow natural justice principles.

Previously (till 2014-2015), these matters were handled by the Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalats (PMLAs).

• These Lok Adalats redressed issues related to family affairs, matrimonial disputes, bigamy, succession, and motor vehicle accident disputes related to labour.

• Also, till 2014-2015, the National Commission for Women (NCW) used to provide financial assistance to NGOs for organising PMLAs Thereafter, the scheme has been discontinued by the NCW.

Additional Information
Mission Shakti

• Mission Shakti has been divided into two sub-schemes, ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’.

• ‘Sambal’ sub-scheme is for safety and security of women.

• It consists of the existing scheme of One-Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helplines (181-WHL) and Beti-Bachao-Beti-Padhao (BBBP).

• It will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with 100% funding from the Nirbhaya Fund/ MWCD budget.

• These funds will be released directly to the district collector or the directorate/commissionerate in state/UT concerned.

• ‘Samarthya’ sub-scheme is for empowerment of women.

• It consists of existing schemes of Ujjwala, Swadhar Greh and Working Women Hostel.

• In addition, the National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) are also subsumed in ‘Samarthya’.

• ‘Samarthya’ will be implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with a funding ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and the state governments or UTs with legislature.

• In the northeast and special category states, and UTs with legislature, the fund ratio will be 90:10.

• For UTs without a legislature, 100% funding will be provided by the central government.