Mos Arjun Ram Meghwal to launch year-long legal awareness campaign tomorrow
New Delhi, June 14
Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal will on Monday launch a year-long legal awareness campaign and lead discussions on strengthening access to justice at a regional workshop in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala, an official said on Sunday.
The Regional Workshop under the DISHA (Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice) Scheme is being organised as part of the Department of Justice's efforts for promoting legal awareness, fostering a culture of pro-bono legal services and showcasing the reforms undertaken in the justice sector over the last 12 years.
Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Secretary of the Department of Justice Niraj Verma will also attend the inaugural event, the official said.
The programme will commence with the ceremonial proceedings, followed by a welcome address by the Department of Justice Secretary, who will outline the vision behind the Regional Workshop and the Department's ongoing efforts towards ensuring inclusive, affordable and accessible justice for all, an official statement said.
A major highlight of the event will be the launch of "Nyaya Prabodh - Awakening to Justice", a year-long legal awareness campaign aimed at deepening citizens' understanding of their Constitutional and legal rights and responsibilities.
The campaign seeks to strengthen legal literacy and encourage greater public participation in the justice delivery ecosystem, the statement said.
Under the Nyaya Prabodh initiative, several citizen-centric activities will be launched, including "Know Your Rights in 90 seconds", a legal awareness campaign designed to promote greater understanding of legal rights and remedies among citizens.
A "Nyaya Quiz" will also be organised for enhancing awareness of Constitutional values, legal institutions and citizens' rights, particularly among youth and students, the statement said.
A "Pro Bono Pledge" will also be administered to encourage advocates, law students and legal professionals to voluntarily contribute their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the underprivileged and vulnerable sections of society, the statement added.
The programme will also include a segment on the pro bono initiatives undertaken by Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) with experience-sharing by faculty members and students engaged in community legal service.
"The Regional Workshop is expected to witness participation of officials from the High court registry, National and State Legal Services Authority, Members of the Bar Association of High Court, Tele-Law Panel Lawyers, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) from Common Service Centres (CSC), Representatives from Ministry of Rural Development, faculty and students from leading law institutions," the statement said.
The DISHA Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme by the Ministry of Law and Justice's Department of Justice. It operates with an overall financial outlay of Rs 250 crore and is designed to provide comprehensive, integrated legal services across the country.
The scheme aims to make justice citizen-centric, inclusive, and technologically accessible for all.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great initiative but 250 crore is a big budget. I sincerely hope it doesn't get lost in administrative expenses and actually reaches the grassroots. The pro bono pledge for lawyers is a good idea—many underprivileged people can't afford a decent lawyer. Let's see how many actually volunteer.
The "Know Your Rights in 90 seconds" campaign sounds brilliant for mobile users! In today's world, if you can grab someone's attention in 90 seconds, they'll actually learn something. Hope they use regional languages too—not everyone understands English or Hindi fluently. 🙏
DISHA scheme from 2015? It's good they are reviving it. But legal awareness alone isn't enough—we need faster courts and cheaper processes. People know their rights but can't enforce them due to delays and costs. Still, any step towards "holistic access" is welcome. Hope Himachal sets an example.
As a law student, I'm excited about the Nyaya Quiz and pro bono pledge! We are taught about legal aid but rarely get real exposure. Involving HPNLU is a smart move—students can bridge the gap between law and the common person. Just hope this isn't a one-day photo-op event.
Good to see Minister Meghwal personally launching this. But I have a small concern: will the "Pro Bono Pledge" be mandatory or just symbolic? Many lawyers in smaller towns already do pro bono work unofficially. If the government formalizes it with some incentives, more might come forward. Also, include paralegals!
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