Access to Justice for Marginalized People

What is the Project About

In partnership with the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, the project focuses on strengthening access to justice for the poor by developing strategies that address barriers to accessing justice in legal, social, economic and political domains.

What Have We Accomplished So Far

What is the project about
  • Based on the success of the partnership, the Government has launched a similar project in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East of India with a budget allocation of  US$ 6 million. 

  • More than 2 million people from marginalized communities are more aware of their legal rights and how to seek redressal of their grievances 

  • As a result of convergence with the Ministry of Human Resource Development legal literacy has been included in the continuing adult literacy programme under the national Government of India literacy scheme, Sakshar Bharat. 

  • Over 7,000 paralegals trained to better assist marginalized communities, drawn from diverse backgrounds including women SHGs, Muslim women, women living in urban slums and so on. 

  • The project has built greater synergy between a range of key actors, both nationally and at state levels to better coordinate efforts in supporting the legal needs of marginalized communities

  • A first-ever study conducted in India on legal aid clinics run by law schools and needs assessments of several State Legal Services Authority have enabled a better understanding of the barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing justice

Funding Support by



United Nations Development Programme

Expenditure in Previous Fiscal Year

US$ 11,33,180

Stories of Change

Rays of Hope: The Power of Information

From Entitlement to Reality: Tribal Communities Use the Right to Information Act to Secure Justice
In partnership with the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, the project is helping poor and marginalized communities in Odisha access justice by enhancing legal awareness and supporting national and local justice delivery institutions.


 

Functional Literacy – The Language of Empowerment

Functional Literacy – The Language of Empowerment
By focusing on financial and legal literacy, UNDP has empowered poor and marginalized to strengthen their asset base, secure justice and expand the range of choices available to them.


 

Justice for All: Securing Land Rights for Tribal Communities

Justice for All: Securing Land Rights for Tribal Communities
UNDP partners with the Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India to empower the poor and marginalized to demand and access entitlements and support justice delivery institutions to ensure the law works for the poor.


 

Road to Freedom: Tribal Communities Secure Land Rights

Road to Freedom: Tribal Communities Secure Land Rights
A UNDP-Ministry of Justice partnership has enabled poor, tribal communities in the Kalahandi district of Odisha to secure land rights and access entitlements under government schemes.

In the News

Project Overview
Status:
Ongoing
Project Start Date:
2008
Estimated End Date:
2012
Geographic Coverage:
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Focus Area:
Democratic Governance
MDG:
All Millennium Development Goals
Project Officer:
Kanta Singh
Partners:
Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice
Highlights
  • The project aims to strengthen legal aid and legal empowerment for marginalized people
  • State-level justice delivery institutions conduct a first-ever assessment of their needs to deliver justice to marginalized people
  • Over 12,000 existing and/or potential litigants are now accessing free legal aid in three districts of Jharkhand
  • District-level forums formed to facilitate access of marginalized communities to justice providers
Related Documents
Posters
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Decisive Leadership for Change

 

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Press Releases
Justice For All
Consultation by Department of Justice and UNDP Examines Approaches to Ensuring Access to the Law by the Poor and Marginalised
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Related Links
UNDP in Bihar