A new Legal Services Clinic was launched on Saturday at the Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) in Kohima, Nagaland, aiming to make legal help more accessible to defence personnel and their families.

The clinic is part of the National Legal Services Authority’s (NALSA) Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana – 2025, a programme that provides free legal assistance to serving soldiers, ex-servicemen, and their dependents. This initiative is a joint effort involving NALSA, the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB), Rajya and Zilla Sainik Boards, and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare under the Ministry of Defence.

The launch in Kohima was one of many across India, all held virtually and overseen by Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court Judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA. Important figures joined the launch online from Srinagar, including Chief Justices of various High Courts, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, senior military officers, and members of the legal community.

Set up in partnership with the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA), the Kohima clinic will help address common legal issues faced by defence personnel, such as pension disputes, service benefits, family matters, property rights, and other civil concerns.

At the launch, Neiko Akami, Member Secretary of NSLSA, highlighted how important the clinic is for supporting ex-servicemen. The event also included officials from the Department of Sainik Welfare, legal professionals, and former soldiers.

The Director of the Rajya Sainik Board welcomed the initiative, calling it a vital step that will provide timely and accessible legal aid to veterans and their families.