Can Collaboration Action Reshape India’s Legal Landscape?

For the past few years, I have been actively involved with organisations working to improve the rule of law and access to justice in India; Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is one of them. I was recently invited to their 10th anniversary celebration where they showcased the commendable work they have been doing in reshaping the laws and policies in India.

In the last decade, innovative initiatives have sprouted across India, laying the groundwork for substantial transformations in the law sector. For example, Lawyered provides round-the-clock legal support to disempowered truck drivers, Aajeevika Bureau in Rajasthan uses mediation to settle disputes for migrant workers and the India Justice Report Report Along with six organisations - DAKSH , Common Cause India , Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy , Prayas-TISS , IDEAL CSJ and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative collaboratively measures and influences the performance of key pillars of the justice system in India. Organisations like Civis and Zenith, along with various online dispute resolution (ODR) providers, have been making commendable efforts, too. Yet, looking at each initiative individually might make us overlook the greater potential at play in this sector.

Having closely observed justice organisations and the experience of collaborative initiatives in climate action and entrepreneurship, I believe it is time for collaborative action in the field of justice. Operating individually, these organisations can only achieve so much. If we want to see a transformative impact in the justice domain, we need to shift from functioning as ‘individual entities’ to operating as ‘one cohesive force’. This shift will not only accelerate change but also allow for better resource allocation, effective communication, and expanded influence to promote just ideas.

One of the organisations working towards building a community of justice-makers in India is Agami . It has been doing commendable work in driving collaborative missions such as open AI for law and online dispute resolution in this space. However, there is room for more extensive network leadership. This leadership must aim to bring together all the scattered efforts, providing organisations with the collective strength needed to address the scale and complexity of challenges in the justice domain.

At GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship , we have witnessed first-hand the success of collaborative efforts in entrepreneurship and how it has led us to create more viable and effective solutions. We can see a similar transformation in the justice reform sector, too. Through collaborative action, we should aim to identify the overlooked areas in our combined efforts, ensuring that our collective actions, while distinct, complement our individual endeavours. The necessary ingredients for success are already in place, including a critical mass of knowledgeable leaders, insights, tools, and experiences from similar collaborative efforts.

The journey of these organisations, each contributing uniquely to India's legal landscape, underscores a larger narrative of progress and potential in the justice sector. The strides made so far are commendable, yet they hint at a broader horizon of possibilities. As these efforts mature and interconnect, they hold the promise of reshaping India's justice landscape into one that is more accessible, equitable, and reflective of the needs of its people.