Nari Adalat research

Organization`s remarks JMSS

Institution

2

Preface

I feel privileged to present the short study on Nari Adalat- an

initiative of federation under Jharkhand Mahila Samakhya Society

(JMSS).

Women empowerment is been reiterated in almost every nook and

corner of the world. I personally being interested in knowing the

same chose it as an assignment for my internship project. My

association to Mahila Samakhya society has indeed been fruitful

as it has helped me in studying our society in depth which is

usually not as apparent in our society.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere

gratitude to the members of Mahila Samakhya Society, especially

Dr. Smita Gupta the S.P.D. of the same who helped me throughout

and under whose guidance I did this study. Also my sincere

gratitude to members of Nari Adalat who provided me with the

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requisite information, and to my institution, “National

University of Study and Research in Law”, Ranchi, for giving me

an opportunity to showcase my work efficiency.

Ms. Tejaswi

Student of BA (Hons) LLB (Hons)

(At National University of Study and Research in Law)

Contents

Chapter PageNo.

Introduction 1

4

Objectives 1

About Jharkhand Mahila Samakhya Society 3

MS intervention in legal education 5

Journey from village level forum to Nari Adalat 7

NARI ADALAT 8

an alternative forum for social justice 8

Community perception on NA 10

An interactive session 19

Findings of study 22

Annexure 24

List of paper clippings 26

Photo Gallery 27

Publications 28

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Chapter I Introduction

The Indian Constitution has given women all rights equal to men.

Rather, there is no statement in our Constitution that

distinguishes the two distinct genders in any form. But, the

phrases seem to be nothing more than a mere literature.

Practically, day in and day out matters keeps whooping up clearly

showing the wide gap of distinction that lies between men and

women even in this era. The thread that keeps this gap distinct

is inability of society itself to accept men and women as equal.

India, being a dominion of patriarchy, seems quite uncomfortable

with raising standard of women which can be seen at the very

household level. In order to keep women under their thumbs, some

men resort to means of violence and hence domination.

Moreover, being the fragile section of our society, women are

exploited to innumerable limit. Men use them as means of

amusement, as if they have no life of their own. ‘Rape’, is an

outcome of this very mentality of ‘use and throw’. Many a times,

women are considered a package for livelihood, and because of

this, they are pushed into prostitution. Married women are

tortured for dowry by their in-laws, so on and so forth, the list

is endless.

As a part of my study curriculum, I chose to plan a study on it

as women empowerment seems to be the buzz word in today’s

society. Yet, in every nook of the country, there are reports to

the contrary.

1

In the Indian social structure women have always been oppressed

and suffered due to lack of information/knowledge and self

confidence. The sentimental view towards the family hinders them

to go to the court and they suffer considering it to be their

destiny. With the efforts of Mahila Samakhya, today the rural

women have a platform in the form of women groups. An effort has

been made by Mahila Samakhya towards this direction to make women

realize that legal education is very necessary for their

empowerment. Rigorous trainings and workshops have been organized

by Mahila Samakhya for the better understanding of legal aspects

and its implications. Valuable information about women based

issues such as gender discrimination; women’s exploitation,

domestic violence etc are disseminated during the trainings,

workshops, meetings etc. Under Mahila Samakhya Programme women of

different districts have formed groups at village level where

they come under one platform and share their problems and solve

them in a holistic approach.

2

Chapter II

ObjectivesMy aim through this study is to figure out the efforts made

by the developed women in uplifting the under developed

ones. Most of the women in our society are now aware of the

various laws and acts passed for the protection of the

fairer sex of our society.

How far has this helped in bringing down the atrocities

against women?

Assess the ways of providing social justice by Nari Adalat.

Identify the impact of Nari Adalat among the society who

seek justice through Nari Adalat.

Understand the process of Nari Adalat.

How far the women have instilled in their minds the feeling

of equality?

How far has Mahila Samakhya society has helped in the same?

MethodologyGroup discussion

Nari Adalat

Individual survey

Interaction with workers of Nari Adalat

Interaction with the people of nearby area

Area of study3

Area taken up for my survey was Sadar Thana which included

Kadru, Karbala Chowk, Nazir Ali lane and Azad colony

Sample size

MS:

Muslim -10

Heterogeneous (Hindu- including SC, OBC, and General)-10

4

ST-10

Adolescent/ unmarried girls-02

Non MS:

Muslim -10

Heterogeneous (Hindu- including SC, OBC, and General)-

10

ST-10

Adolescent/ unmarried girls-02

HypothesisTo all the given questions, with the latest annual report of

Mahila Samakhya society, the society seems to have been

making a progressive effort to help the victimized women.

The federation instilled with the work of sorting out the

family disputes seems to be working quite efficiently.

LimitationsThere were many problems faced during my study

The study was limited to the ways of providing social

justice by Nari Adalat run and managed by Ranchi Sadar

federation under Mahila Samakhya.

It was really difficult to interact with the victims and

collect information.

During meetings for compromise, twice the respondent party

failed to appear before Nari Adalat.5

Unlike every month, proper Adalat was not held in the month

of December.

Many a times, the federation members did not turn up or

there was mismanagement of time.

Chapter III

About Jharkhand Mahila Samakhya SocietyMahila Samakhya programme was launched in 1988 in pursuance of

the goals of the New Education Policy-1986 and focussed as a

concrete programme for the education, empowerment and social

inclusion of socially and economically marginalised women. Since

independence, education and empowerment of women has been one of

the major indicators of development in all the five year plans.

The revised National Policy on Education-1992 gave more impetus

on redressing traditional gender imbalances in educational

accessibility with respect to women. The new policy also realized

and recognised that empowerment of women is possibly the most

critical pre-requisite for the participation of women and girls

in the educational system. Mahila Samakhya envisages the initiatives under its program:

to enhance self esteem of women,

Develop ability of women to think critically and participate

in decision making in the family.

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Enable them to make informed choices in areas like

education, health and livelihood options.

Make them responsive towards their own rights and

entitlement provided under the law.

Mahila Samakhya creates an environment that promotes women’s and

girls’ education and empowers them to identify and overcome the

socio-cultural and systematic barriers that inhabit their

participation in the educational process.

The programme is currently being implemented in ten States viz.,

Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala,

Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.

Mahila Samakhya programme in Bihar (undivided) was launched in

the year 1991in four districts namely: West Champaran, Sitamarhi,

Muzaffarpur and Rohtas under the banner “Education for All”. In

1992, Ranchi and East Singbhum were also included. The entire

Mahila Samakhya Programme was led by the State Project Director

(SPD) of Bihar Education Project (BEP) till the bifurcation of

Jharkhand state.

In 2000, when Jharkhand was established as a new state, Mahila

Samakhya Programme continued as usual under Jharkhand Education

Project Council (JEPC) department of Human Resource Development,

Government of Jharkhand. Initially, the programme had to face

great difficulties due to infancy of the state and also there

were other social indicators and issues which were of greater

priority for the newly formed state. However, the team at the

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state level managed to continue the Mahila Samakhya Program

covering 3308 villages of 37 blocks of 4 districts i.e. Chatra,

Ranchi, West Singhbhum and East Singbhum. The idea to register

Mahila Samakhya as “Jharkhand Mahila Samakhya Society” a separate

society was persuaded rigorously and finally on 6th September a

separate society got registered under Societies Registration Act

1860. At present Mahila Samakhya Programme is running in 11

districts of Jharkhand.

Broadly stated objectives of Mahila Samakhya

1. To create an environment in which education can serve the

objectives of women's equality.

2. To enhance the self-image and self-confidence of women and

thereby enabling them to recognize their contribution to the

economy as producers and workers, reinforcing their need for

participating in educational programmes.

3. To create an environment where women can seek knowledge and

information and thereby empower them to play a positive role

in their own development and development of society.

4. To set in motion circumstances for larger participation of

women and girls in formal and non-formal educational

programmes.

5. To provide women and adolescent girls with the necessary

support structures and an informal learning environment to

create opportunities for education.

6. To enable Mahila Sanghas to actively assist and monitor

educational activities in the villages - including elementary8

schools, AE, EGS/ AIE Centres and other facilities for

continuing education.

7. To establish a decentralized and participative mode of

management, with the decision making powers devolved to the

district level and to Mahila Sangha which in turn will provide

the necessary conditions for effective participation.

Chapter IV

MS intervention in legal educationJharkhand being primarily a land of tribal’s, has been engulfed

with crisis of upliftment of females due to domination of males.

This in turn has led to serious and speedy increase in violence

against women in form of foeticide, flesh trade, selling of girls

to other states and most commonly, domestic violence.

The NCRB recorded 2,544 cases of violence against women in the

state during past five years, including 753 rape cases, 293

molestation cases, 283 kidnapping cases and 257 dowry deaths at

an average annual basis.

The ratio no doubt has been soaring too high. To bring it down

not only the government, but various Non Government Organizations

have been trying hard enough, Mahila Samakhya being one of them.

Following are the intervention of Jharkhand Mahila Samakhya

Society towards legal education:

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Our legal interventions

Nari Adalat

Nari Adalat is a mechanism developed at village level which is

headed by women of the federation. The mechanism has been

developed to support the victims of gender based violence and

gender discrimination. Nari Adalat has proved to be alternative

to the traditional judicial system, for its expedite action,

affordability and simplicity. Mahila Samakhya initiated Nari

Adalats are very practical, less expensive and accessible to

every woman who wishes to take the support. It is neither

expensive nor complicated. These Nari Adalats are operated

completely by federation’s Sangha.

Legal camp

With a view to creating awareness among the socially and

economically disadvantaged sections of society, legal camps are

organized by the Mahila Samakhya the camps are organized aiming

at curbing all types of gender based violence to women and girls

through making them aware of their rights and entitlements. These

10

Nari Adalat

Legal camp

Gender sensitisation

Legal committee formation

Access to legal services

camps play a vital role in bringing about gender equality in a

very uncontroversial manner.

Gender sensitization

“Gender” refers to the socially constructed roles and

responsibilities of women and men, in a given culture or

location. These roles are influenced by perceptions and

expectations arising from cultural, political, environmental,

economic, social, and religious factors, as well as custom, law,

class, ethnicity, and individual or institutional bias. Gender

sensitization refers to the modification of behaviour by raising

awareness of gender equality concerns. The specific nature and

degree of gender differences vary from one society to another and

are generally in favour of men. Mahila Samakhya is making efforts

to disseminate the balanced message defining the role and power

so that both genders can get equal opportunity in every sphere of

life. Taking a longer and sustainable point of view, gender

sensitization programs have been organized in terms of workshop,

training, seminar and General Council Meeting (Aam Sabha) for

women groups, community, and Kishori Manch, MSK and MS staff.

Access to legal services

Efforts are being made by Mahila Samakhya to ensure that every

woman should be aware of their rights and raise voice against

gender discrimination and win their reverent space in the society

by availing all the legal services for the protection of their

rights and providing justice to the women. Mahila Samakhya

targets to ensure woman to take the advantages of great support

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SETUP OF NARI ADALAT AT NAZIR ALI LANE The land where Nari Adalat presently

functions belongs to one Tahziba with a

paralyzed husband at home and mentally

unstable son, she was being harassed by the

builders to sell off her land to them

forcibly. Therein she approached JMSS for

help. To this, JMSS suggested her to put the

land on lease for 5 yrs in which duration the

land would be in safe hands and will be put to

an efficient use as well.

In this way, the land was saved from forcible

encroachment as well is put to an efficient

provided by the government civil societies and Mahila Samakhya

itself, to avail them their worth place in the society. The

strong Sangha also provides counseling and legal support to the

women in their villages. They register cases during their meeting

and provide social justice to the women victimised by gender

based violence.

Chapter V

Journey from village level forum to NariAdalat

11 years of establishment, intensively dominant problem involving

women led to birth of a women protection cell. Though there have

been a number of women cells, yet the problem seemed unsolved.

There was a need for something other than what existed, something

more transparent, and something more grounded and within reach.

Hence came in Nari Adalat.

In the beginning, the process of Nari Adalat was not much

formulated, and was vague. It had just begun with a motto of

protecting the fairer

sex of our society, but

without any set means

and procedures. Later,

by providing training to

members in each of the

branches, the cell was

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SETUP OF NARI ADALAT AT NAZIR ALI LANE The land where Nari Adalat presently

functions belongs to one Tahziba with a

paralyzed husband at home and mentally

unstable son, she was being harassed by the

builders to sell off her land to them

forcibly. Therein she approached JMSS for

help. To this, JMSS suggested her to put the

land on lease for 5 yrs in which duration the

land would be in safe hands and will be put to

an efficient use as well.

In this way, the land was saved from forcible

encroachment as well is put to an efficient

made stronger and better. Women from each Nari Adalat for this

purpose were sent to Gujarat, which happens to be mother of all

Nari Adalat across the country.

Since the workers did not charge any amount, nor received any

funds, they were spending entire amount from their pocket for all

related purposes which included regular visits to victims,

catching hold of accused and maintenance of the office and

general official purposes. This though, became difficult after a

while.

To combat this problem of fund shortage, they started with

receipt entry, charging 51/- per case, which with passage of time

was increased to 151/- and presently stands at 251/-. This amount

goes into the fund of Nari Adalat, and is used for official

purposes. Thus the Adalat developed more of as a self help group.

Moreover, the workers now brought in the system of stamp paper.

After the compromise, such that the matter has been settled in,

both the parties are made to sign on the bond paper, thereby

forming a contract, making the compromise legally binding.

Chapter VI

NARI ADALAT an alternative forum for social justice

Structure-

Following members forms a complete structure for Nari Adalat.

B.D.O

Thana In charge

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C.D.P.O.

Service provider members

Federation workers

Advocate

ProcessAfter a complaint arrives, the workers analyze the complaint and

decide whether the case falls within their jurisdiction or not.

Once the case is considered to be within jurisdiction, a receipt

is discharged and depending on the financial conditions of the

complainant, amount is charged from 0/- to 251/- . The workers

then in groups visit the nearby places to confirm the details

given by the complainant to be true. After the details have been

confirmed, a notice is being dispatched to the respondents for a

proceeding. During the proceedings, both the parties are given

forum to speak of their views and then are made to compromise.

The compromise deed is made on the stamp paper and a bond is

made.

Follow up is done in every 15 days to a month to figure out

things are going as per the contact.

Types of documentsThe documentation depends on the nature of the case which arrives

Nari adalat has been an advent in the present stature of the

society, a step to redeem socially isolated and victimized women.

Nari adalat started functioning in Jharkhand since 2008 and there

has been no turning back ever since. Dr. Smita Gupta, S.P.D. of14

Mahila Samakhya Society, Jharkhand along with other members laid

the foundation stone to this advent. The group takes in cases

related to domestic violence, eve teasing, multi-gamy, child

marriage, inter-caste marriage, rape dowry etc. Matters related

to murder, abduction, kidnapping land disputes etc are not taken,

as they involve serious intervention of concerned authority,

which seems to be an out of bound job for these feline workers.

Yet, the matter under its dominion are very well sorted to

possible extents and usually such matters ends well in

compromise, with depicts huge understanding and deep study for

each of the case hence a success.

Cases which are taken by the Nari Adalat

Dowry

Sexual harassment

Rape

Domestic violence

Bigamy

Polygamy

Child marriage

Unmatched marriage

Pseudo marriage

Witch hunting

Torture

Eve teasing

Inter cast marriage

Inter community marriage15

Trafficking

Chapter VII

Community perception on NA MS Survey

(A) COMMUNITY: MUSLIM (OBC)

1. Mainum Nissar

Place- Mandar

Matter went before- Panchayat then Nari Adalat and then Thana.

Facts- Complainant demanded 20,000/- as per contract made from

his to-be-son in law if the marriage was rejected from them. The

other party refused the amount.

Judgment- the other party refused to agree even on the sum of

1,000/- so, the matter was taken up by Thana.

2. Nasima Khatoon

Place- Karbala Chowk

Matter went before-Nari Adalat

Facts- Complainant happens to be the 2nd wife and has 3 children.

1st wife died leaving behind 5 children. To the property of her

16

husband, names of the children from 1st wife were taken.

Complainant demanded justice for herself and her children.

Judgment- Complainant and her issues’ names were added in

nominee’s list.

3. Nazia Parween

Place- Azad Basti

Matter went before- Nari Adalat

Facts- Complainant lives in joint family. Both of her parents are

dead. Aunt used to treat violently and roughly

Judgment- Aunt was made to sign bond of living in harmony with

the niece and other family members as well.

4. Shakeel Ahmed

Place- Azad Basti

Matter went before- Nari adalat

Facts- matter related to domestic violence- drinking and

assaulting his wife

Judgment- both husband and wife were made to sign on the bond

paper to live with each other without any altercations or

violence, in harmony.

5. Md. Asrafi Ansari

Place- Bariatu

Matter went before- Mahila Thana to Nari Adalat

Facts- Complainants’ son fled with Hindu girl. Girl’s family

alleges of abduction. Boy and girl were arrested. Girl was sent

to Nari Niketan. Complainant was not permitted to meet girl even

after repeated requests in Mahila Thana.

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Judgment-The Complainant was helped to meet the girl, wherein she

admits to have fled with her consent. Remaining matter to be

dealt by the court.

6. Shehnaz

Place- Hazaribagh

Matter went before- Nari Adalat then court

Facts- the victim was burnt to death as the demands of her in-

laws were not fulfilled. The in-laws fled from the place when

Nari Adalat workers along with police intervened.

Judgment-the accused were tracked down, and were punished. They

are presently in prison.

7. Shamina Khaatoon

Place - Doranda


Facts- husband re-married. Complainant wants maintenance and

husband to spend time with their children.

Judgment- matter unsorted as complainant now demands 2nd wife to

abort her child.

8. Madina Khaatoon

Place- Gumla


Facts-there was some small dispute after which the Complainant

stopped talking with her husband. Got their son married without

informing her husband. Were not in contact since past 3 yrs.

Husband decided to re-marry. Complainant appeared before Adalat

to stop him from doing the same.

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Judgment- The complainant was found to be at fault. Compromise

was done.

9. Musharrat Parween

Place- Kadru

Matter went before- Panchayat then Nari Adalat

Facts- the in-laws and the husband of the complainant assaulted

her. Matter was laid down before Panchayat. For a time being they

stepped doing so because of intervention of panchayat. After a

year, the in-laws began assaulting again. Thence she approached

Nari Adalat.

10. Nikhat Parween

Place- Azad Colony

Matter went before- Nari Adalat then Thana

Facts-complainant’s husband remarried and asked her to stay with

In-laws instead of with him to which she opposed. The husband was

found to be running sex racket in the parlour with the second

wife, thereby was sent to jail.

Judgment matter was brought in light and the husband was

prosecuted for running sex racket under foliage of beauty

parlour.

COMMUNITY: HETEROGENEOUS (SC/GENERAL/OBC : HINDU)

1. Meera Devi

Place- Karbala Chowk

Matter went before- Nari Adalat approached to the victim

Facts- there had been constant war of words between the victim

and her sister in law. Soon after the victim resolved to not19

eating and not speaking tendencies and eventually became weak.

Matter spread in neighbouring areas and thence Nari Adalat

workers intervened. Neither the victim nor neighbours complained

of any corrosive treatment by her in-laws towards her.

Judgment- nothing could be sorted out as the victim had degraded

her health beyond treatment. The victim succumbed to her physical

and mental conditions.

2. Prabha Devi

Place- Hetu( Hinoo)


Facts- the complainant happens to be the first wife of Ramdev

Sahu. During partition of land, the complainant was not offered

share of land which she desired for.

Judgment- after harvesting season is over; the Amin will be

called off along with Nari Adalat workers to sort out the

dispute.

3. Anju Kumari

Place-Chutia

Matter went to- Nari Adalat

Facts – complainant accused husband as a drunkard and that the

salary was taken up by his mother. On inspection it was found out

the complainant abused her mother-in-law and husband.

Judgment- the lady was sent to her parents as she regularly

threatened her in-laws of committing suicide.

4. Sakshi Jha

Place-Pahari Tola

20

Matter went to- Nari Adalat but complainant did not turn up later

Facts – complaint secretly approached Nari Adalat with woes that

her husband did not perform the ritual of gauna, wherein the wife

was left in her parents’ home even after birth of a child

Judgment- unsolved as complainant failed to appear later.

5. Jhulan Devi

Place-Hetu


Facts- the complainant happens to be 1st wife of her husband. She

demanded for equal share in property for herself and her

children.

Judgment- her demands were meted with. Equal shares were given as

was demanded.

6. Gayatri Gupta

Place-Kanke


Facts- the son of complainant was not letting marriage of his

sister solemnized with any boy of their choice. He tended to

over-prejudice the complainant (his mother), father and sister.

Judgment- the lady was suggested to get her daughter married off

such that she stays out of reach of her brother. The girl is now

well settled in America.

7. Meera Devi

Place-Bharmo


21

Facts – husband of the complainant had illicit relationship with

another girl and spent nearly entire income over her.

Judgment- matter sorted. Husband promised to stay faithful with

his wife, and stop spending amount over the girl rather to hand

them over to his wife.

8. Meera Devi

Place-gumla


Facts – the complainant’s deceased husband was a MLA. After his

demise, the entire property was taken up by his brother, and his

nephew was made an MLA. Complainant approached Nari Adalat to get

back the property and amount in bank account which was taken up

by deceased’s brother.

Judgment- matter was sorted, and the complainant got her rights

over the property, and her son was given place of MLA.

9. Ginita Chatterjee

Place- Kadru

Matter went up to: Nari Adalat and then court

Facts: the accused happens to be wife of an inspector. She along

with another man used to run pornography racket. The victim never

revealed the same to anyone. Due to excessive assault, when the

victim was admitted at hospital, the accused asked victims’

sister to replace her. To this, the sister fled and reported the

same to Nari Adalat workers

Judgment: police intervened and the accused were taken into

custody. Matter went up to the court.

22

10. Munni

Place Azad Basti

Matter went before: Nari Adalat

Facts: the complainant was married off to a mad man, who used to

regularily beat and assault her.

Judgment: with the help of medical certificates, the victim was

permitted divorce, with the help of Nari Adalat workers.

COMMUNITY: ST

1. Sushma Kumar

Place - Gungu Toli


Facts- the complainant is cancer patient. She approached Nari

Adalat with complain that her father and elder sister had stopped

sending her money for treatment and other expenditures. On

approaching the father and elder sister of the complainant, it

was found that there was timely deposit of amount by the father

in the complainants account and with the intention of receiving

more money; the complainant deceivingly approached Nari Adalat.

Judgment- after the true facts were found out, the complainant

was made to compromise with her father and elder sister.

2. Kaushalya Devi

Place-Hinoo


Facts- the husband of the complainant is having illicit

relationship with another lady, who is also a married woman.

23

Judgment- matter is still pending as both the parties failed to

appear before Nari Adalat henceforth.

3. Jyoti Tigga

Place- Hinoo


Facts- complainant had love marriage. Her husband is in love with

another lady and wants to marry her as she is Hindu, thereby

unlike the complainant, is of his cast.

Judgment- the matter is still pending.

4. Nirmala kujur

Place- Gungu toil

Matterwent before- Nari Adalat

Facts- the lady was accused of committing adultery.

Judgment- Matter was sorted and the lady shifted along with her

husband to a new home.

5. Sapna Soreng

Place Bariatu

Matter went before Nari Adalat

Facts- the complainant doubted her husband of being in illicit

relationship with another woman.

Judgment- matter was sorted, as the husband was made to promise

of staying faithful to his wife.

6. Pramila

Place Kumhar Toli


24

Facts- the complainant married a Muslim who later married another

woman. The complainant wanted maintenance.

Judgment- maintenance was given matter sorted.

7. Parwati Khalko

Place Dangra Toli


Facts doubted husband was in illicit relationship with another

woman.

Judgment- husband was made to vow of not cheating over his wife

again.

8. Shabnam

Place Gumla

Matter went before Panchyat and Nari Adalat

Facts- married a Muslim. Husband was in illicit relation with his

elder brother’s wife

Judgment- the complainant and her husband shifted to another

place and broke contacts with his brothers’ wife.

9. Sushma Kerketta

Place Ketari Bagan

Matter went before Nari Adalat then Mahila Ayog

Facts- the complainant had a love marriage. Later, her husband

was found to be in illicit relationship with another lady. The

complainant wanted him to break away from her which the husband

refused to.

Judgment- not sorted. Matter went up to Mahila Ayog.

10. Rosemary:

25

Place Argora

Matter went before: Nari Adalat

Facts: the victim and her fellow classmates were raped and

sexually harassed by a school master who threatened them of not

revealing anything. The victim approached Nari Adalat.

Judgment: matter was taken up to the Thana, and the accused was

punished.

COMMUNITY: ADOLOCENT/ UNMARRIED GIRLS

11. Gudia Kumari

Place- Sajid Ali LAne


Facts- Girl when minor eloped with her lover and married him. The

boy met an accident and succumbed to injuries leaving behind the

girl and a child. the boys’ family refuses to accept girl or her

child.

Judgment- not sorted. No proof of marriage. Marriage was illegal

in itself as the girl was minor.

12. Sonam Khalko

Place- Dhurwa


Facts- father had married twice. According to the customary rules

girl child shall not inherit property. So the complainant is

denied of her rights.

Judgment- not yet sorted.

Non MS Survey26

COMMUNITY: MUSLIM (OBC)

1. Naima Parween : no family disharmony. If occurs will approach Nari Adalat if

required.

2. Aasma Khaatoon: do

3. Shabnam Parween:do

4. Noorjahaan: do

5. Rasheeda Khaatoon: do

6. Nikhat Parween: do

7. Hasratoon Parween: do

8. Niasmin:do

9. Ishrat Parween: do. Brought her sisters’ matter (related to domestic violence ) to

Nari Adalat.

10.Samina Khaatoon: Family disputes occur. Internal disharmony. Did not approach

Nari Adalat. Considers family disputes are best resolved within the four walls of

the house. Will not prefer Nari Adalat.

COMMUNITY: HETEROGENOUS

1. Vimla Devi: husband abandoned the victim with her 6 yrs. Old daughter. Did not

approach Nari Adalat because of other family problems in parents’ place. Now she

wishes to approach the same for maintenance.

2. Aasha devi:husband abandoned the lady and seeks divorse from the court. Matter

has already gone to court hence Nari Adalat cannot help.

3. Gita Devi: no family disharmony. If occurs will approach Nari Adalat if required.

4. Suman Chourasia:do

5. Shila Devi:do

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6. Manju Devi:do

7. Shikha Devi:do

8. Chinta Devi: do

9. Radha Devi: do

10.Nirmala Devi:do

COMMUNITY: ST

1. Jayanti Toppo- no family disharmony. If occurs will approach Nari Adalat if

required.

2. Shobha Tirkey-do

3. Aasha Kacchap-do

4. Seema Toppo- do

5. Sandhya Toppo- do

6. Sabita Toppo- do

7. Parwati Khalko- do

8. Naymanti Khalko- do

9. Seema Soreng- do

10.Suman Soreng- do

COMMUNITY: ADOLOCENT/UNMARRIED GIRLS

1. Soni Kumari: no family disharmony. If occurs will approach Nari Adalat if

required.

2. Suman Rani Toppo- do

Chapter VIII

An interactive session

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An interaction with the workers made it specifically clear

regarding the working process of the cell.

Tahira Begum (member)

Takes in the cases and helps to sort out the same. She underwent

training at Gujarat and ever since has been remodeling the

structure of existing Nari Adalat. She along with other workers

visits the complainant for follow ups once the matter is being

made to compromise.

Anjum Ara (sahyogini)

Helps in sorting out the cases. Also assists in follow ups and

rescuing teams.

Soni (member)

Pens down the statements of the complainant and defendant which

are later examined by the members looking into the matter.

Niasmin (member ) Pens down the statements of the complainant and

defendant which are later examined by the members looking into

the matter.

Aasha devi: Samooh member

Matters are tried to be sorted on the Samooh level at first. If

the result does not come out, there, then the matter is taken up

to Nari Adalat. Usually the victims approach them but if they get

to know about some disharmony, they themselves approach the

victims and try to counsel them

Nari adalat: a success

29

Nari adalat as per my survey has been successful in forming a

network, and has made a channelized approach in eking out itself

as a house hold name. Though the Adalat is situated in Sadar

area, it has been receiving cases from all over the state.

My survey report states very clearly that people from far and

wide places have been participating and encouraging other women

as well.

To make this part a success, women in all localities forms a

SAMOOH, in which time to time they sit together to solve various

family disputes. It is tried that the matters are solved then and

there, but if their efforts fail, they bring the cases to the

Nari Adalat office.

The women of the Sadar locality are actively participating in

meetings, show keen interest in bringing up the matter to the

Adalat. Their active participation helps the Nari Adalat workers

to mark on victims who due to several causes fail to approach the

workers.

There has been remarkable change in functioning of the cell, and

each new case marks new experience and innovations to sort them

out.

Women from all community and social strata prefer Nari Adalat, as

it has been an easy platform, socially acceptable and easy

dispute solving arena.

Though the cases of murder, land disputes, abduction and

kidnapping have been struck off the list of Nari Adalat, yet the

adventurous and outstanding female workers leave no stone

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unturned to figure out solutions to these problems as well. In my

survey report, cases of dowry death, abduction, kidnapping and

land disputes and matter related to sex racket and pornography

have also been mentioned, which shows the daring state of affairs

these workers are in for the safety of the fairer sex of our

society. Case related to pornography even involved serious media

intervention.

STATUS OF NARI ADALAT

Particulars Figures (2010-2011)

Total Nari Adalat 9

Total registered cases 102

ST 15

SC 11

OBC 19

Minority 51

General 6

Total solved cases 68

Cases under process 15

Unsolved cases 14

Cases referred from police station 5

Cases referred from else where 6

Cases referred to police station 4

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Cases referred to others 1

Future challengesTo establish the name of Nari Adalat in every nook and

corner of the state.

To raise issues in relation with women empowerment and

impart them the same throughout.

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Chapter IX

Findings of studyThroughout the survey, the assumable result is that the Adalat

has been socially accepted. The workers of this federation do not

work for any salary, or personal benefits. The main reason

attached to this is that most of the associated women have been

sufferers of the brunt of this patriarchal society. They work

together not for any profit, but for betterment of this society.

The complainants seem to be well satisfied with the outcome of

judgment and there have been very few cases wherein the case has

been referred to some other cell like ‘Mahila Ayog’. Even the

nearby residents visit when the ‘Adalat’ is called in. Their

reviews suggest the federation is successful enough to impart the

message of equality, rights and duties.

Nari adalat has now emerged as a parallel group of Mahila

Samakhya society, rather than being just a small part of it.

Many of the times, these women have acted as rescue groups as

well to save girls being sold, abducted, to be shipped or those

fled.

Suggestions1. Since the cell has been formed for protection and

development of women community, the same does not stand alone.

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There are various communities in existence, which needs to work

hand in hand to provide accurate statistics.

2. Though the entire country suffers from the major problem of

dowry, only a few cases were reported to this cell. This indeed

concludes that the women still are feeling unsecure to bring

forth the matter of dowry harassment out of four corners of the

house. This loophole needs to be fixed by appropriate counseling

to the women.

3. Police especially should be made to cooperate with the

workers as certain matters which they handles requires instant

raid which is not handy when it comes to these female workers.

Recommendations1) Though the workers charge a sum of 251/-, the Amount is charged

only out of the ones who can affords it, and the amount which

they can. That clearly shows that the meager amount is not

sufficient to keep such stronghold of society intact. There

should hence be a fund for maintenance and miscellaneous purposes

related to the official works.

2) For the rescue operations they perform, they require a separate

fund for that purpose, which can be used in first aid to the

victims, or for the journey expenditure meted out during such

operations.

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3) Once in a while, heads of all similar cells along with the police

department should sit together to figure out not only the

solutions to upcoming cases, but to kill the root cause itself.

Annexure

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List of respondent

Sl.NO.

Respondents Place

1. Anju Kumari Chutia2. Asrafi Ansari Bariatu3. Gayatri Gupta Kanke4. Ginita Chatterjee Kadru 5 1. Gudia Kumari Sajid Ali Lane6 Jhulan Devi Hetu7 Jyoti Tigga Hinoo8 Kaushalya Devi Hinoo9 Madina Khaatoon Gumla10 Mainum Nissar Mandar11 Meera Devi Gumla 12 Meera Devi Bharmo13 Meera Devi karbala chowk14 Munni Azad Basti15 Musharrat Parween Kadru16 Nasima Khatoon Karbala Chowk17 Nazia Parween Azad Basti18 Nikhat Parween Azad Colony19 Nirmala kujur Gungu toil20 Parwati Khalko Dangra toil21 Prabha Devi hetu( hinoo)22 Pramila kumhar toil23 Rosemary Argora24 Sakshi Jha Pahari Tola25 Sapna Soreng Bariatu26 Shabnam Gumla27 Shakeel Ahmed Azad Basti28 Shamina Khaatoon Doranda29 Shehnaz Hazaribagh30 Sonam Khalko Dhurwa31 Sushma Kerketta Ketari Bagan32 Sushma Kumar Gungu Toli

List of persons interacted

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SL.NO. NAME PLACE1. Aasha devi Nazir Ali lane2. Aasha Kacchap Azad Basti3 Aasma Khaatoon Nazir Ali lane4 Anjum Ara Nazir Ali lane5 Chinta Devi Nazir Ali lane6 Gita Devi Nazir Ali lane7 Hasratoon Parween Kadru8 Ishrat Parween Kadru9 Jayanti Toppo Azad Basti10 Manju Devi Nazir Ali lane11 Naima Parween Kadru12 Naymanti Khalko Azad Basti13 Niasmin Nazir Ali lane14 Nikhat Parween Kadru15 Nirmala Devi Nazir Ali lane16 Noorjahaan Kadru17 Parwati Khalko Azad Basti18 Radha Devi Nazir Ali lane19 Rasheeda Khaatoon Nazir Ali lane20 Sabita Toppo Azad Basti21 Samina Khaatoon. Nazir Ali lane22 Sandhya Toppo Azad Basti23 Seema Soreng Azad Basti24 Seema Toppo Azad Basti25 Shabnam Parween Nazir Ali lane26 Shikha Devi Nazir Ali lane27 Shila Devi Nazir Ali lane28 Shobha Tirkey Azad Basti29 3. Soni Kumari Nazir Ali lane30 Suman Chourasia Nazir Ali lane31 Suman Rani Toppo Bariatu32 Suman Soreng Azad Basti33 Tahira Begum Nazir Ali lane34 Vimla Devi Nazir Ali lane

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List of paper clippings

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Photo Gallery

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Publications

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Nari Adalat research

Documents

Transcript of Nari Adalat research