Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): District Legal Officer, District Legal Services Authority, B. M. Singh has said that there will be darkness where there is discrimination in a society. “How a boy will shine his parents’ name, but a girl shall bring respect to two families,” he added.
Singh was speaking at the ‘Eighth Nyay Chaupal Foundation Day 2025’ at Bhabha University, Jatkhedi, in the city on Saturday. He also shared how various departments must work with a convergence approach for this collective noble cause to bring true change at both state and district levels.
Arvind Singh (Deputy Defense Counsel, District Legal Services Authority) explained some specific laws associated with it, such as safety and counseling measures, along with various provisions for them by the government for their stay, food, and livelihood-based training. “Only where the women are respected do Gods reside,” he added.
Nyay Chaupal is a community-based legal aid cell by domestic violence survivor women, established on June 28, 2017, by Uday Social Development Society.
It was created for the survivors, by the survivors, and for the survivors. Its chief aims are to empower the survivor women, raise awareness about their issues, and challenge gender discrimination and patriarchy.
It helps them to consult and counsel with one another and prevent their families’ disintegration. Since 2017, more than 2,200 cases of domestic violence have been successfully solved by Nyay Chaupal through joint counselling, consistent follow-up, and referral to relevant government bodies such as M.P. Community Police, women police stations, DLSA, and Gauravi One-Stop Crisis Centre.
Sister Roseline, Joint Director, Uday Society, explained how the initiative of Nyay Chaupal works for women and adolescents at the deepest on-ground level of society, bringing genuine change in their lives and establishing peace and harmony by building gender-sensitive families and communities. She also shared how, in the past eight years, 196 women have been working tirelessly on domestic violence cases across Bhopal, Khandwa, and Jhabua.
A documentary on their journey towards independence and courage was also screened. It was followed by three of its members and survivors sharing their real-life impact stories, buoying the audience. A few Nyay Chaupal members also presented a self-defense demonstration, signifying the importance of actively pursuing women’s safety.
This was followed by an award ceremony for 26 Nyay Chaupal members who had demonstrated exceptional commitment as change agents working on domestic violence cases and highlighting women’s issues in their communities, along with awarding all 13 Nyay Chaupal groups.
