In a landmark step to ensure access to justice for the nation’s armed forces, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) on Saturday launched the ‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana’, a comprehensive legal aid initiative dedicated to defence personnel and their families. The announcement came during the North Zone Regional Conference held in Srinagar, centred around the theme ‘Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals’.
Presiding over the event, Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant, who also serves as the Executive Chairman of NALSA, emphasized the importance of extending legal support to those who safeguard the nation. “This scheme seeks to build upon the existing framework of legal services clinics by establishing a dedicated network across Sainik Boards at the Zilla, Rajya, and Kendra levels,” he said.
Justice Kant noted that these Sainik Boards have traditionally served as welfare and support hubs for both serving and retired personnel. With the launch of the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana, these centers will now also function as vital platforms for legal guidance, making them fully equipped to address the legal concerns of military families.
More than just offering legal assistance, the scheme introduces a community-driven model. In a move hailed as both inclusive and empowering, defence families and ex-servicemen will be invited to serve as paralegal volunteers. Their involvement is expected to bridge the communication gap, enhance trust in the system, and create a more responsive and empathetic legal aid structure.
“This initiative stands as a declaration of our intent to extend every possible support and opportunity in safeguarding the rights of our military and paramilitary personnel and their families,” said Justice Kant. “While our soldiers stand vigilant at the nation’s borders, we in the legal fraternity will stand equally vigilant in protecting their rights and their welfare at home.”
The Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana marks a significant expansion of NALSA’s outreach and reaffirms its commitment to constitutional values of equality, justice, and dignity for all citizens—especially those who have served the nation with valour. The initiative is expected to create a nationwide support ecosystem, bringing legal empowerment closer to the families of India’s heroes
