Justice Vivek Rusia Inaugurates 3-Day Community Mediation Training Programme For Retired Officers At M.P. State Legal Services Authority

The programme has been designed for retired officers from various services including police, armed forces, education (teachers and professors), banking, and other public institutions, along with professionals and experts who possess significant administrative experience and social credibility.

The programme was formally inaugurated by Justice Vivek Rusia by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the presence of Shri Raghvendra Singh, Collector & District Magistrate, Jabalpur; Shri Ram Prakash Ahirwar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur; Shri Sandeep Saxena, Senior Trainer, MCPC, New Delhi; and Ms. Suman Shrivastava, Member Secretary, M.P. State Legal Services Authority.

On the occasion, a brochure on Community Mediation was also released to promote outreach and awareness. The brochure explains the concept, process, and importance of community mediation in simple and accessible language for the benefit of the public.

In his inaugural address, Justice Vivek Rusia highlighted the growing importance of community mediation as an effective mechanism for resolving disputes at the grassroots level. He observed that mediation helps reduce the burden on courts while promoting mutual understanding, cooperation, and harmony within society.

Justice Rusia further noted that retired officers, having served for decades in public service, possess valuable experience, social respect, and practical wisdom. Their balanced perspective and credibility within society can play a significant role in facilitating amicable settlement of disputes and strengthening social harmony.

Sharing his experience from the Community Mediation Programme in Indore, Justice Rusia recalled how effective coordination and support from the District Administration and Police Commissionerate, Indore, helped resolve disputes of citizens in a timely and amicable manner. He stated that through such collaborative efforts, several disputes of the general public were resolved promptly, providing substantial relief to the parties involved.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Suman Shrivastava, Member Secretary, M.P. State Legal Services Authority, emphasized the need to develop a trained pool of community mediators who can assist in resolving local disputes peacefully and in a structured manner. She stated that the programme is an important step towards strengthening Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms and encouraging community participation in the justice delivery system.

Shri Raghvendra Singh, Collector & District Magistrate, Jabalpur, appreciated the initiative and observed that community mediation can play a vital role in addressing civic and neighbourhood disputes at an early stage.

Shri Ram Prakash Ahirwar, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jabalpur, also expressed support for the initiative and stated that the civic administration would extend full cooperation to such programmes. He noted that collaboration between municipal administration and legal services institutions can significantly promote peaceful dispute resolution and social harmony.

The technical sessions of the training programme are being conducted by Shri Sandeep Saxena, Senior Trainer, MCPC, New Delhi, who is providing practical training on mediation techniques, communication skills, negotiation strategies, and conflict resolution methods. Through interactive discussions, practical exercises, and case simulations, participants are being trained to handle community disputes in a constructive and solution-oriented manner.

At the conclusion of the inaugural session, Shri Arvind Shrivastava, Additional Secretary, M.P. State Legal Services Authority, delivered the vote of thanks. The programme was conducted by Shri Aniruddha Jain, Deputy Secretary, M.P. State Legal Services Authority.

Among others present on the occasion were Smt. Shakti Verma, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Jabalpur; Shri Aashish Shukla, Nodal Officer, NIC; District Legal Aid Officers Shri Pradeep Singh Thakur and Shri Digvijay Singh; officials of the M.P. State Legal Services Authority; and representatives from print and electronic media.

The programme marks an important initiative aimed at strengthening community mediation by involving experienced retired officers and promoting amicable dispute resolution at the grassroots level.