Did 14,888 women register for free legal aid on the Nyaya Bandhu App?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 14,888 women have registered for legal assistance through the Nyaya Bandhu App.
- The app connects beneficiaries with Pro Bono Advocates.
- Legal aid covers issues like domestic violence and workplace harassment.
- The Nyaya Bandhu program is part of the DISHA scheme.
- A dedicated portal is available in 22 languages.
New Delhi, July 31 (NationPress) A total of 14,888 women have signed up for free legal aid via the Nyaya Bandhu App as of June 30, seeking support for various legal matters, including women and child safety, family and matrimonial disputes, domestic violence, and workplace harassment, as reported in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, shared in a written response that the Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal Service) initiative registers interested Pro Bono Advocates and links them with those in need through the Nyaya Bandhu Application available on iOS, Android, and the UMANG Platform.
Currently, 9,261 advocates have volunteered and registered on the Nyaya Bandhu platform to provide assistance to individuals eligible for free legal aid under Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, as stated by Meghwal.
The Nyaya Bandhu program is part of the initiative 'Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice' (DISHA) managed by the Department of Justice, he noted.
Moreover, a panel of Pro Bono Advocates has been established in 23 High Courts to strengthen the institutional framework for delivering pro bono legal services to beneficiaries.
To encourage a culture of pro bono work among law students and to foster a long-term dedication to legal service, Pro Bono Clubs (PBCs) have been created in 109 law colleges nationwide, according to Meghwal.
He remarked that to enhance the reach and effectiveness of the Nyaya Bandhu program in remote regions, PBCs in law schools are actively involved in providing community legal assistance and raising legal awareness among beneficiaries in villages, ensuring sustained pro bono engagement across the country.
To broaden the outreach of pro bono legal services, a dedicated portal for Nyaya Bandhu (https://www.probono-doj.in/) is accessible to citizens in 22 scheduled languages of the nation.
Meghwal mentioned that the Nyaya Bandhu Application has been integrated with Tele-Law (pre-litigation advice) services under the DISHA scheme.
Through the Tele-Law App, beneficiaries can seek further legal advice and support from a Nyaya Bandhu Pro Bono advocate.
With assistance from Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) and Panel Lawyers involved in pre-litigation guidance under Tele-Law, awareness about Nyaya Bandhu is being disseminated among citizens in their native languages at Common Service Centres and through the Helpline Toll-free number 14454.