BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to establish legal assistance cells in each gram panchayats (GPs) to provide access to people deprived of justice due to social and economical reasons.
The assistance will be given in the shape of free legal aid to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen for economic and other reasons, a resolution by the Law Department stated on Wednesday.
The legal assistance scheme named as ‘Madhubabu Aain Sahayata scheme’ is aimed at revamping the socio-economic structure at the grassroots level by making citizens aware of their rights and providing free legal advice at the doorstep.
According to the resolution, a legal assistance cell ‘Madhubabu Aain Sahayata Sibir’ (MASS) will be opened in each GP. The MASS will function from the Bharat Nirmal Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra or the GP office.
One front room in the building with basic furniture, one table, six chairs and other office stationeries (pen and paper) will be provided by respective GP. The centre will function once a week preferably on Saturday or Sunday subject to maximum four times in a month.
The resolution stated that for every MASS, one legal assistance lawyer will be engaged by the Law Department out of a panel of three lawyers.