Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 16: The Uttar Pradesh government has unveiled a transformative initiative aimed at empowering women in rural areas—Nari Adalat—a grassroots community court system that blends legal awareness, local dispute resolution, and access to welfare schemes.
Launched by the Yogi Adityanath-led administration in alignment with the central government’s vision of women-led development, Nari Adalat operates under the Women and Child Development Department. It is already being implemented as a pilot project in eight aspirational districts: Bahraich, Balrampur, Chandauli, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, and Sonbhadra.
Each Nari Adalat is composed of 7 to 11 local women and functions as both a platform for awareness and a community-based dispute resolution forum. These courts bring vital information directly to women’s doorsteps—ranging from legal rights to welfare schemes like the One Stop Center, 181 Women Helpline, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
According to an official release, Nari Adalats aim to educate women on key issues such as education, health, safety, and financial independence. These forums provide a safe and supportive space for women to voice concerns, resolve disputes, and engage with the administrative system, helping build trust and leadership at the village level.
Crucially, Nari Adalat goes beyond legal education—it resolves family and social disputes, provides peer support, and creates a culture of accountability and community justice. It is actively fostering a new wave of grassroots leadership and social cohesion among rural women.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has positioned Nari Adalat as a key pillar of inclusive governance. Based on the feedback from pilot districts, the government plans to scale the initiative across all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
Touted as more than just a scheme, Nari Adalat represents a movement towards a more just, aware, and self-reliant rural society—living up to its motto: Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Samaj (Empowered Women, Empowered Society).