In a significant step towards realizing the vision of a Litigation-Free Rural India, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Durg, successfully concluded its five-day Community Mediation Training Programme on 29 July 2026. Organised from 25 July to 29 July 2026 for the effective implementation of the “Community Mediation Towards a Litigation-Free Rural India” Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), 2026 issued by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), New Delhi, the programme concluded in a dignified and enthusiastic atmosphere at the New Auditorium on the fourth floor of the Principal District and Sessions Court, Durg (Chhattisgarh).
The initiative was conducted in furtherance of the vision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Hon’ble High Court of Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur, and Hon’ble Justice Shri Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice, High Court of Chhattisgarh and Patron-In-Chief, Chhattisgarh State Legal Services Authority, Bilaspur. Under his guidance, the programme evolved beyond a conventional training exercise and emerged as a meaningful public initiative aimed at promoting social transformation and advancing the objective of a Litigation-Free Rural India.
Throughout the five-day training programme, the participants took part with great enthusiasm, discipline, and dedication, while continuing to receive the constant guidance of Shri K. Vinod Kujur, Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Durg. During the training, comprehensive and practical instruction was imparted on the concept of Community Mediation, the fundamental principles of mediation, effective communication skills, Active Listening, dispute analysis, practical mediation techniques, ethical values, and the amicable resolution of disputes at the village level. Throughout the various sessions of the training programme, the participants enthusiastically ensured their active participation and assimilated the finer aspects of mediation through group discussions, role play, and practical exercises.
Sharing details of the initiative, Shri Umesh Kumar Bhagwatkar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Durg, stated that, with the resolve of building a “Litigation-Free Rural India,” Community Mediators from the five villages of Ghughsidih, Nankatthi, Arasnara, Nikum, and Kuthrel were trained to strengthen the culture of peace, harmony, and dialogue within society. Upon completion of the programme, these trained Community Mediators are expected to play a significant role in facilitating the amicable and effective resolution of minor social, family, and community disputes within their respective villages.
The valedictory ceremony marked another important milestone, as all Community Mediators who successfully completed the training programme were presented with certificates by Smt. Sushma Lakra, Chairman, Permanent and Continuous Lok Adalat, and Shri Umesh Kumar Bhagwatkar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Durg. The recognition symbolised not only the successful completion of their training but also their assumption of a larger responsibility as ambassadors of peace, dialogue, and social harmony within their communities.
To ensure the smooth conduct and effective implementation of the programme, a dedicated Coordination Committee was constituted comprising Smt. Sushma Lakra, Chairman, Permanent and Continuous Lok Adalat; Shri Bhupesh Kumar Basant, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shri Umesh Kumar Bhagwatkar, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Durg and Ms. Muskan Sharma and Shri Pankaj Sharma, Civil Judges (Junior Division). The Committee played a pivotal role in coordinating every aspect of the five-day programme by providing continuous guidance and institutional support, thereby ensuring its seamless, well-organised, and purpose-driven execution.
The District Legal Services Authority, Durg also adopted a Multi-Sectoral Approach for the effective implementation of the initiative by securing the active cooperation of various government departments, law colleges, Para Legal Volunteers, local public representatives, and social workers. According to officials, such broad-based participation is expected to play a crucial role in transforming Community Mediation into a people’s movement. The District Bar Association, Durg, also extended valuable support and made a commendable contribution towards the successful organisation of the public welfare initiative.
Among the most inspiring highlights of the training programme was the participation of Shri Govardhan Barle and his wife, Smt. Lalita Barle, from Gram Panchayat Ghughsidih. By undergoing the training together as husband and wife, the couple demonstrated an exemplary commitment to social responsibility and public service. While simultaneously fulfilling their family responsibilities, they actively participated throughout the five-day programme with remarkable enthusiasm and dedication, setting a noteworthy example of mutual cooperation, respect, and sensitivity. Their participation reflected the very essence of Community Mediation—”Dialogue, Consensus, and Harmony”—while reinforcing the message that when an entire family becomes actively associated with community welfare, it can emerge as a powerful catalyst for positive social transformation.
The training programme also witnessed encouraging participation from women Community Mediators, who came forward in significant numbers and actively engaged in the various sessions throughout the programme. Their enthusiastic involvement reflected the growing role of women in strengthening community-based dispute resolution mechanisms and stood as a testament to the spirit of women empowerment. Their participation further highlighted that women are not only equal stakeholders in promoting peace, dialogue, and social harmony but are also emerging as key agents of grassroots social transformation through Community Mediation.
In a unique and culturally rooted initiative to promote the concept of Community Mediation at the grassroots level, the District Legal Services Authority, Durg has also composed an original awareness song in the regional Chhattisgarhi language. The song has been thoughtfully crafted to communicate the core values of Community Mediation—dialogue, consensus, peace, harmony, and amicable dispute resolution—in a simple, relatable, and culturally resonant manner. By incorporating the local language, traditions, and ethos of rural Chhattisgarh, the initiative seeks to foster greater public awareness and encourage voluntary participation in Community Mediation. The song reinforces the message that village-level disputes can be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding, thereby strengthening social harmony and reducing unnecessary litigation. The lyrics of the awareness song are reproduced below:-
मिल बैठबो बात करबो, गांव ला खुशहाल करबो
मन के गांठ ला खोल के संगी, प्रेम के दिया बारबो।
झगरा-झंझट दूर भगाबो, नेह के फुलवारी सजाबो
सामुदायिक मध्यस्थता के संगी, घर-आंगन महकाबो।
वाद नई, संवाद होही, प्रेम के नई बिहान होही
राजीनामा के रद्दा धरके, सुख-शांति के गान होही।
वाद नई, संवाद होही, मन-मन मया के गान होही।
रूठे मन ला कौन मनाबो, मया के बात मनावो ना
टूटे रिश्ता कौन बनाबो, मिलके हाथ बढ़ावो ना।
खेत-खार के, घर-अंगना के छोटे-छोटे बात ला
गांव के बीच मा सुलझाबो, झन ले जाबो कोर्ट-कचहरी ला।
ना हार होही, ना जीत होही
सबके मन-मन बात होही।
सामुदायिक मध्यस्थता ले संगी, खुशियों के बरसात होही
वाद नई, संवाद होही, प्रेम के नई बिहान होही
राजीनामा के रद्दा धरके, सुख-शांति के गान होही
वाद नई, संवाद होही, मन-मन मया के गान होही।
ननकट्ठी अऊ कुथरेल गाथे, नीकुम गाथे प्यार के बात
अरसनारा मुस्कावत हे, घुघसीडीह हा बने संग साथ।
पांचों गांव मा ज्योति जरही, नेह के नई मिसाल बनही
वाद-मुक्त भारत के सपना, अब हमर गांव ले सच होही।
भाई-चारा के गंगा बहही, मन के मैल सब धोही
संवाद के रद्दा धरके, हर दुख-पीरा खोही।
पंचायत संग गांव के मनखे, मिल-जुलके जब आही
बातचीत के मीठे बोली, हर झगरा मिट जाही।
जल्दी न्याय, सरल उपाय, सबके मन ला भाही
राजीनामा के फूल खिलही, खुशहाली घर आही।
कम खरचा मन जल्दी निपटारा, सबके मन हर्षाही
मया-भरोसा अऊ समान ले, नवा बिहान मुसकाही।
झन लड़बो भैया, झन लड़बो दाई
झन तोड़ रिश्ता ला…
प्रेम के डोरी मजबूत करबो, अपन मन गांव के बसताना।
अदालत जाये के पहिली, एक बेर बात करबो
सामुदायिक मध्यस्थता के संग, मिलके राजी हो जाबो।
मिलके रहीबो, हंसके रहीबो, संगी हाथ बढ़ावो
झगरा-झंझट भूल के सब झन, प्रेम के गीत गावो।
वाद के बदला बात धरबो, मन के भीतर छांव करबो
न्याय के संग मया मिलाके, गांव ला आगे लाबो।
कागज- पत्तर के बीच मा, गांव के ताला थामबो।
the audio version of above mentioned song is available at the following link:
▶ YouTube: https://youtu.be/dg1hdL6NGks?si=_BPS8vjFG9nBqKR
With the successful conclusion of the programme, the District Legal Services Authority, Durg has taken another significant step towards advancing the vision of a litigation-free, peaceful, and harmonious rural India. Officials expressed confidence that, through the collective efforts of all stakeholders, the initiative will evolve into an effective and exemplary model of social transformation and strengthen the culture of dialogue-based dispute resolution at the grassroots level.
