Lok Sabha Question No. 2683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-10
Subject: Disha Programme
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sarmistha Sethi, Sukanta Majumdar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

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## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2683

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, THE 10 th  MARCH, 2021

## DISHA PROGRAMME

2683.   SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK; SHRIMATI SARMISTHA SETHI;

DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR;

## Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is implementing Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice in India (DISHA);
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the fund allocated by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the Government is implementing access to justice - North East and Jammu and Kashmir project in the country;
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government is implementing Tele Law, Naya Bandhu and Nyaya Mitra programmes under the above project in the country;
- (f)
- (g)
- if so, the details thereof; and
- the other steps being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LAW & JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND

ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) & (b) : Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice in India (DISHA) Scheme aims to provide a comprehensive integrated solution on Access to Justice at Pan India level through the components of Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Nyaya  Mitra  programme  and  Legal  Awareness  programme  using  dedicated Information Education Communication (IEC) &Technology from 2020-21 onwards.  An amount of Rs 40 Crore has been allocated for 2021-2022 F.Y.

(c)  &  (d):  Yes  Sir,  the  Government  is  implementing  Access  to  Justice  in  North Eastern  States  and  UT  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Ladakh,  since  2012.  The  key focus  areas  have  been  legal  literacy,  legal  awareness  and  establishing  legal  aid clinics  for  community  facilitation  in  collaboration  with  State  Legal  Services Authorities,  State  Institute  of  Rural  Development,  State  Women  Commissions, State Resource Centres.

(e) to (g) :Yes Sir, the Government is implementing Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu and Nyaya Mitra Programmes since April, 2017which are being subsumed by DISHA. The Tele-Law programme aims to connect the needy and underprivileged to seek legal  advice  from  the  Panel  lawyers  through  Tele/video  conferencing  facilities available  at  the  Common  Service  Centres  (CSCs)  situated  at  Gram  Panchayat Level.  Till  28th  February,  2021,  6,61,414  beneficiaries  have  registered  and 6,47,193 beneficiaries have received advice through 29,860 CSCs situated in 285 districts  (including  115  Aspirational  districts)  in  29  States/UTs.  Department  of Justice  is  implementing  Nyaya  Bandhu(ProBono  Legal  Services)  programme,  to create a network of interested Pro Bono Lawyers and facilitate their connect with registered beneficiaries through technology based platforms and creation of Nyaya Bandhu  Panels  at  High  Court.  It  also  aims  to  instill  pro  bono  culture  in  Law Schools.Till 28 February 2021, 2477 lawyers have registered as Nyaya Bandhus,

09  High  Courts  have  created  Nyaya  Bandhu  Panels  and  29  Law  Schools  have registered  under  the  Pro  Bono  Club  Scheme  (PBCS).  Nyaya  Mitra  programme aims to facilitate the disposal of ten year old or more pending cases at the district level.  The  other  steps  include  implementation  of  Legal  Literacy  and  Awareness programme for promoting access to justice among the citizens.

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