Stating that access to the justice delivery system to the poor and underprivileged should be improved, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced setting up of legal assistance cells, namely, ‘Madhubabu Ayeen Sahayata Kendras’ at every gram panchayat.
Patnaik, who was addressing the ruling BJD’s first State-level legal front convention in Cuttack also announced a three-fold hike in lawyers’ Welfare Fund from `1 crore to `3 crore.
The BJD, in its election manifesto, had declared to open legal assistance cells in each gram panchayat.
“We will set up legal assistance cells to provide an enabling environment for the legal empowerment of our people,” said Patnaik.
The legal assistance cells would offer services once a week and are likely to be operational from next year.
“The lawyers’ Welfare Fund plays an important role in supporting advocates in times of need. The State Government will be providing a matching grant for `1 crore towards this. I am happy to announce that we are proposing to increase this grant from `1 crore to `3 crore per annum,” Patnaik announced.
He also announced setting up of a law University in the State.
