Lok Sabha Question No. 847 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Paralegal Volunteers
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh, Dr. Rani Srikumar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-847

TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY  - 26/07/2024

## PARALEGAL VOLUNTEERS

## 847. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH: DR. RANI SRIKUMAR:

Will the Minister of Law and Justice be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking any steps towards training of paralegal volunteers to represent the needy and to give legal aid and assistance to their respective jurisdiction, State wise including Rajasthan;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government along with the Legal services authorities are working towards strengthening paralegal volunteers since they play crucial role to literate unprivileged and marginalised peoples of society; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

- (a) to (d): The Para-legal Volunteers Scheme was introduced by the National Legal Services Authority  (NALSA) in  the  year  2009,  with  an  aim  to  impart  legal  training  to  the volunteers, who are selected from different walks of life so as to ensure legal aid reaching all sections of people ensuring access to justice. The said scheme was revised in 2017 and re-named  as  'Scheme  for  Para-legal  Volunteers  (Revised)'.  The  Para-legal  Volunteers (PLVs) are expected to act as intermediaries between the common citizens and the Legal Services Institutions to bridge the gap in ensuring access to justice.

To  enhance  the  capacities  of  PLVs,  especially  their  skills  and  representation, NALSA  has  prepared  an  extensive  training  module  namely  'Module  for  Training  of Para-legal Volunteers', which covers all aspects necessary for training to the PLVs. This Module  is  intended  to  inform  and  sensitize  the  PLVs  on  the  Constitutional  vision  of justice, basics of criminal law, labour laws, law for juveniles and laws for protection of women and senior citizens. It lays emphasis on knowledge of procedure as well as social sensitivity,  soft  skills  of  behavior  and  communication  skills  which  are  essential  for dealing with a diverse population.

Under the  supervision  of  Chairman,  District  Legal  Services  Authority  (DLSA), PLVs  undergo  training  programmes  at  a  common  place.    The  number  of  PLVs  to  be trained  at  any  given  point  of  time  in  a  training  programme  does  not  exceed  50.    In addition  to  orientation  and  induction  trainings,  periodical  refresher  training  is  also provided  to  the  PLVs  in  order  to  enhance  their  skill  from  time  to  time.  The  Legal Services Authorities periodically assess the work of PLVs and assist them in identifying the deficits and to tackle the problems in the field.  The DLSAs resolve their doubts and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and upgradation of their skills as per the module. The exemplary services of PLVs are given recognition and are rewarded for providing the best services to the beneficiaries.

A statement containing the details of training programmes conducted for PLVs by the  Legal  Services  Authorities  including  Rajasthan  during  the  financial  years  2023-24 and 2024-25 (upto May 2024) is at Annexure-A .

*****

Statement as referred to in reply to Lok Sabha  Unstarred Question No.  847 for  answering on 26.07.2024 raised by Shri Dushyant Singh and Dr. Rani Srikumar, MPs - Paralegal Volunteers.

| Services S. No   | Authorities during the financial Name of the SLSAs   | 2023-24 and 2024-25 (upto May, 2024) No of Training Programmes conducted for PLVs   | 2023-24 and 2024-25 (upto May, 2024) No of Training Programmes conducted for PLVs   |
|------------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Services S. No   | Authorities during the financial Name of the SLSAs   | 2023-24                                                                             | 2024-25 (upto May 2024)                                                             |
| 1                | Andaman and Nicobar Islands                          | 0                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 2                | Andhra Pradesh                                       | 37                                                                                  | 0                                                                                   |
| 3                | Arunachal Pradesh                                    | 7                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 4                | Assam                                                | 38                                                                                  | 3                                                                                   |
| 5                | Bihar                                                | 95                                                                                  | 6                                                                                   |
| 6                | Chandigarh                                           | 7                                                                                   | 1                                                                                   |
| 7                | Chhattisgarh                                         | 253                                                                                 | 38                                                                                  |
| 8                | Dadra and Nagar Haveli                               | 0                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 9                | Daman and Diu                                        | 0                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 10               | Delhi                                                | 39                                                                                  | 6                                                                                   |
| 11               | Goa                                                  | 2                                                                                   | 1                                                                                   |
| 12               | Gujarat                                              | 22                                                                                  | 9                                                                                   |
| 13               | Haryana                                              | 268                                                                                 | 45                                                                                  |
| 14               | Himachal Pradesh                                     | 74                                                                                  | 16                                                                                  |
| 15               | Jammu and Kashmir                                    | 19                                                                                  | 0                                                                                   |
| 16               | Jharkhand                                            | 182                                                                                 | 33                                                                                  |
| 17               | Karnataka                                            | 58                                                                                  | 3                                                                                   |
| 18               | Kerala                                               | 9                                                                                   | 3                                                                                   |
| 19               | Ladakh                                               | 2                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 20               | Lakshadweep                                          | 0                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 21               | Madhya Pradesh                                       | 145                                                                                 | 0                                                                                   |
| 22               | Maharashtra                                          | 126                                                                                 | 38                                                                                  |
| 23               | Manipur                                              | 18                                                                                  | 1                                                                                   |
| 24               | Meghalaya                                            | 4                                                                                   | 6                                                                                   |
| 25               | Mizoram                                              | 9                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 26               | Nagaland                                             | 1                                                                                   | 0                                                                                   |
| 27               | Odisha                                               | 53                                                                                  | 23                                                                                  |
| 28               | Puducherry                                           | 3                                                                                   | 1                                                                                   |
| 29               | Punjab                                               | 226                                                                                 | 37                                                                                  |
| 30               | Rajasthan                                            | 47                                                                                  | 14                                                                                  |
| 31               | Sikkim                                               | 18                                                                                  | 2                                                                                   |
| 32               | Tamil Nadu                                           | 63                                                                                  | 14                                                                                  |
| 33               | Telangana                                            | 19                                                                                  | 3                                                                                   |
| 34               | Tripura                                              | 10                                                                                  | 1                                                                                   |
| 35               | Uttar Pradesh                                        | 8                                                                                   | 6                                                                                   |
| 36               | Uttarakhand                                          | 42                                                                                  | 3                                                                                   |
| 37               | West Bengal                                          | 79                                                                                  | 19                                                                                  |
|                  | Total                                                | 1983                                                                                | 332                                                                                 |