NLU Delhi gets ₹4.74 crore grant from Azim Premji Foundation for victim advocacy project

The Centre for Criminology and Victimology (CCV) at National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) has been awarded a grant of ₹4.74 crore from the Azim Premji Foundation to establish a Victim Advocacy Project (VAP).

The VAP initiative is aimed at mitigating crime-related difficulties at the grassroots level through expert-led legal intervention, counselling support, advocacy efforts and sustained community mobilisation.

It seeks to address long-standing gaps in legal assistance, representation and participation in order to ensure victims' access to justice. The project is designed to offer structured, professional and continuous support at every stage to ensure that victims do not struggle to navigate the complex justice process.

VAP roadmap for the next 3 years

• Represent and support more than 450 victims of crime through all phases of the criminal justice process — from FIR and investigation to trial, appeal and rehabilitation.

• Build a specialised cadre of Litigation Fellows and Paralegals, trained intensively in victim rights, court procedures and trauma-informed engagement.

• Provide professional mentorship by leading senior advocates to ensure high-quality litigation support and ethical representation.

• Generate evidence-based insights that contribute to legal reforms, policy improvements and greater institutional accountability.

• Integrate research and field practice to develop a scalable model of victim advocacy for replication across India.

Commenting on the launch, Vice-Chancellor Prof GS Bajpai stated,

“This project marks a transformative shift in how law universities can meaningfully engage with society. Through the Victim Advocacy Project, we are not only advancing research and training but also directly contributing to justice, dignity, and empowerment for those who need it the most.”

Azim Premji Foundation's contribution will enable NLU Delhi to implement a structured, multi-layered program to place the victim at the centre of the justice process. The systemic and well-resourced interventions will involve:

• Legal representation

• Counselling and psychosocial support

• Community engagement

• Training and capacity-building

• Research and documentation