Panel Discussion On Strengthening Access To Justice For Marginalized Adivasis And Denotified / Nomadic Tribes Under NALSA's SAMVAD Scheme

The discussion was graced by Ms. Amandeep Kaur, CJM and Secretary, DLSA, Prof. (Dr.) Satish Chandra, Professor of Law, RGNUL, and Dr. Abhinandan Bassi, Assistant Professor of Law and Faculty Co-ordinator, RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic. The event also witnessed the presence of members of the DLSA Panel and SAMVAD Committee, whose insights enriched the deliberations.

Speakers highlighted the persistent barriers that Adivasis and Denotified/Nomadic Tribes continue to face in accessing justice—ranging from social stigma and linguistic hurdles to inadequate awareness of legal rights, over-policing, and gaps in institutional sensitivity. While strong constitutional and legal safeguards exist, the panel noted a significant disconnect between the formal recognition of rights and their actual realisation on the ground.

The session further underscored that the NALSA (SAMVAD) Scheme holds transformative potential to bridge this gap through sustained dialogue, community-centric legal awareness, and strengthened collaboration between police authorities, legal services institutions, and grassroots organisations. Key recommendations included training Para-Legal Volunteers from within the communities, expanding mobile legal aid clinics, ensuring effective victim-compensation mechanisms, and developing culturally responsive justice practices.

The panel collectively affirmed that ensuring justice for Adivasis and DNT/NT communities is not only a statutory requirement but also a constitutional and moral responsibility. The event concluded with a resounding call for coordinated institutional action to ensure that marginalized voices are heard, rights are upheld, and access to justice becomes a lived reality for every individual.