From Grassroot Feminist Mobilization To State Supported Community Justice: A Comparative Analysis Of Nari Adalats In Gujarat And Assam
Ms. Manjari Nandy, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara ORCID: 0000-0003-1065-8378
Dr. Neha Agashe, MIT World Peace University, Pune
Dr. Sanjay Barman, Department of Social Work, NERIM, Guwahati ORCID: 0000-0001-5593-8678
ABSTRACT
In contemporary India, community-based justice mechanism has become important for negotiating with existing gender inequalities and mobilizing women’s access to justice. Nari Adalats are such alternative justice initiatives that operate outside traditional legal organizations and enable women to negotiate their claims and grievances. Nari Adalats owe its origin and subsequent expansion to two different conditions. In its initial stage, it emerged as grassroot feminist collective rooted in community participation, mobilization and legal literacy as a part of Mahila Samakhya Program in Gujarat. Later, Government of India institutionalized this model under the Mission shakti initiative.
This study compares the Gujarat and Assam model drawing from Legal Pluralism, Feminist Legal Theory, Social Capital Theory and empowerment. The study underlines, the differences in implementation and functioning of the Gujarat and Assam model mostly on the basis of how they differ in their operations because of absence and presence of bureaucratization respectively. This study also brings forth the argument that establishes Nari Adalats beyond a simple dispute resolution body, towards being an agency that enables community participation and gendered citizenship. The study also suggests sustainable pathway for community based gender justice in India.
Keywords: Nari Adalat; Feminist Justice; Gendered Citizenship; Legal Pluralism; Women's Empowerment; Community Justice; Mission Shakti; Gujarat; Assam.
