New Delhi, September 21: The Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, organised a Regional Workshop under the DISHA 2.0 Scheme on 21 September 2026 in India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) Goa. The workshop brought together key stakeholders associated with access to justice, legal awareness, legal aid and technology-enabled legal services, with a focus on strengthening citizen-centric justice delivery and enhancing awareness of legal rights and remedies.
The Regional Workshop highlighted the initiatives being undertaken by the Department of Justice under DISHA 2.0 Scheme, including the use of technology and community-based mechanisms to facilitate access to legal information, advice and assistance. The programme also provided a platform for interaction among beneficiaries, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), and Panel Lawyers, showcasing their experiences and role in taking legal services closer to citizens.
The programme was graced by the Governor of Goa, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju as the Chief Guest, along with Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice, Government of India Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa. The event brought together officials from the Central Government and Government of Goa, representatives of Common Service Centres (CSCs), law institutions of Goa State and other stakeholders working towards ensuring accessible and inclusive justice delivery.
In his welcome address, Shri Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice welcomed the dignitaries and participants. He highlighted the Department of Justice’s commitment to strengthening access to justice through DISHA 2.0 Scheme, with its focus on Tele-Law, Nyaya Bandhu, Legal Literacy and Legal Awareness Programme, and VIDHI-Sanjeevani. He also highlighted the “Nyaya Prabodh” initiatives, including “Know Your Rights in 90 Seconds” and the Slogan Competition, along with the documentary and interactions showcasing the implementation of DISHA 2.0 Scheme in Goa. He appreciated the pro bono legal work undertaken by law colleges under Nyaya Bandhu and emphasized that legal awareness, technology-enabled justice delivery and community participation are central to ensuring inclusive and citizen-centric access to justice.
A major highlight of the workshop was the showcase of the best five reels received and shortlisted under the “Know Your Rights in 90 Seconds” campaign, being undertaken as part of “Nyaya Prabodh – Awakening to Justice”. The event also marked the launch of a Slogan Competition under the Nyaya Prabodh campaign, with the aim to deepen citizens’ understanding of their constitutional and legal rights, promote legal literacy, and foster greater public engagement and participation in the Justice delivery ecosystem. Participants are invited to submit their slogans till 31st December 2026 on Department of Justice’s website https://www.doj.gov.in.
A documentary highlighting the implementation and outreach of DISHA Scheme in Goa was screened during the programme. The programme was followed by a live interaction with beneficiaries of the Scheme, VLEs, and Panel Lawyers, providing an opportunity to share experiences relating to the delivery of legal advice and assistance through DISHA 2.0 initiatives.
The workshop also featured an interaction with student and faculty of the Law School under Nyaya Bandhu (Pro Bono Legal services) in Goa, highlighting the role of the legal fraternity and educational institutions in promoting pro bono legal services and contributing to the objective of access to justice for all.
Prof. (Dr.) R. Venkata Rao Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, India International University of Legal Education and Research, Goa, in his address stated that it was a momentous day for IIULER, Goa, as the institution was collaborating with the Pro Bono Club Scheme under the DISHA 2.0 Scheme of the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice. He appreciated DISHA Scheme for providing effective tools and platforms to advance access to justice and emphasised that pro bono lawyering is an essential responsibility for young lawyers. He appreciated the Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot launched by the Department of Justice under the DISHA Scheme as an important initiative for enabling citizens to access legal information and assistance.
Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C) for Law & Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal highlighted that access to justice is not limited to courts and legal processes, but also involves empowering citizens with knowledge of their rights and ensuring that legal information and services are simple, accessible and responsive. Highlighting the significance of pro bono service, he referred to the inspiring legacy of Chittaranjan Das and Shri Arvind Ghosh in the historic Alipur Dwar Case before the Calcutta High Court, where C.R. Das selflessly appeared to defend Shri Arvind Ghosh and powerfully argued for justice, leading to his acquittal. He noted that this spirit of service continues through the Nyaya Bandhu initiative and described pro bono advocates as playing a role akin to guardians of justice. He also emphasized the importance of legal awareness initiatives under “Nyaya Prabodh: Awakening to Justice”, particularly in engaging educational institutions, students and young professionals in promoting legal literacy and a culture of service.
In his keynote address, Hon’ble Governor of Goa, Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju underscored that access to justice is central to the constitutional vision of ensuring dignity, fairness and equal opportunity for every citizen, irrespective of social or economic background. He highlighted the importance of legal awareness and citizen empowerment in enabling people to understand their rights, seek timely assistance and access appropriate remedies. Referring to the “Nyaya Prabodh: Awakening to Justice” initiative, he noted that an informed citizen is an empowered citizen and appreciated the participation of students, educational institutions and young professionals in strengthening legal literacy and the rule of law. He further emphasized that access to justice is a shared responsibility of Governments, Courts, Legal professionals, Academia, Civil Society and citizens, and called for collective efforts to build a more accessible, responsive and humane justice delivery ecosystem towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The workshop concluded with the presentation of mementos to the guests and the Vote of Thanks by Director, Department of Justice. The programme concluded with the National Song followed by the National Anthem.
The Regional Workshop reaffirmed the Department of Justice’s continued efforts under DISHA 2.0 Scheme towards strengthening legal literacy, facilitating access to legal services, promoting pro bono engagement and leveraging technology and community-level outreach mechanisms to ensure that the benefits of justice delivery reach citizens across the country.
