Uttar Pradesh campaign declares 330 villages dispute-free through community mediation

The "Dispute-Free Devipatna: Resolution Through Dialogue" campaign, launched under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has successfully resolved local disputes through community mediation and mutual consent in the Devipatna division. Out of 500 selected villages, 330 have already been declared dispute-free, with 769 cases resolved through dialogue and consensus-building rather than prolonged litigation.

Under the direction of Divisional Commissioner Durga Shakti Nagpal, the campaign is being implemented across 16 tehsils in the districts of Gonda, Bahraich, Balrampur and Shravasti. The initiative aims to resolve civil, revenue and community-related disputes at the village level itself through mediation, sparing rural residents from unnecessary court battles while saving them considerable time and money.

A five-member community mediation panel has been constituted in each selected village, comprising the lekhpal, panchayat secretary, gram pradhan, a women's representative and senior village members. Mediation centers have been established at gram panchayat buildings or public spaces, with naib tehsildars or tehsildars appointed as nodal officers to monitor the process.

District-wise progress shows Bahraich leading with 109 villages declared dispute-free and 141 disputes received, followed by Balrampur with 86 villages and 237 disputes, Gonda with 82 villages and 167 disputes, and Shravasti with 53 villages and 224 disputes under resolution. The mediation process primarily addresses conflicts related to village pathways, residential routes, drainage, property partition, inheritance and boundary disputes through community meetings, site inspections and verification procedures.

The administration aims to complete the mediation process in remaining villages to establish the entire Devipatna division as a dispute-free zone. This initiative is not only providing swift, consent-based solutions to villagers but also strengthening social harmony, justice delivery and mutual trust within rural communities.