Handful of women avail legal aid

Newindpress, 18th March, 2008

BHAWANIPATNA: Women in Kalahandi are yet to be aware about the provision of legal aid to assert their rights as well as settle family disputes.During 11-year period starting from March 1, 1997, only 169 women have submitted applications for availing legal aid before the Legal Service Authority, Kalahandi. Out of that, 166 applications have been disposed of. This is despite several NGOs working to empower women in the district.This was revealed at the workshop organised by District Legal Service Authority here yesterday. The workshop on the theme ‘Violence against women’ was organised on the occasion of National Women’s Week on civil court premises here.Speakers said women are not coming forward to assert their rights due to lack of awareness and poor literacy rate. Chief Judicial Magistrate Saroj Kumar Pati emphasised on creating awareness in the society to curtail violence against women. He said NGOs and social activists have a key role to create awareness and empower women.