പ്രജാ സേവ ക്യാമ്പയിൻ: ജനങ്ങൾക്ക് സൗജന്യ നിയമസഹായം ലഭ്യമാക്കാൻ പുതിയ കേന്ദ്രം തുറന്നു: കർണാടക ഉപമുഖ്യമന്ത്രി

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said a dedicated legal aid centre has been opened under the Praja Seva campaign to provide free legal assistance.

Launching the Praja Seva programme at Periyapatna, he said the initiative was aimed at taking the government machinery to people's doorsteps and resolving their grievances.

"We have started the Praja Seva Department to listen to people's problems and provide solutions. A separate legal aid centre has been opened during the campaign so that people can get free assistance in legal-related matters," he said.

Mr. Shivakumar said the Praja Seva Department was launched on September 5, and 620 programmes had already been held, with more than one lakh applications received. Most of the petitions were related to the Revenue, Rural Development, and Urban Development departments, he said.

Legal aid representatives would be present along with government officials during the programmes to guide people on legal issues, he added.

The Chief Minister said he would personally review the disposal of applications received through the campaign. "If an application is not disposed of, an explanation will have to be given and a solution found," he said.

12 lakh pensioners benefit

Referring to pension-related grievances, Mr. Shivakumar said the income limit for pension eligibility had been raised from ₹32,000 to ₹1.20 lakh following complaints from beneficiaries. "This decision of the government has benefited 12 lakh pensioners," he said.

He also said the government had decided to provide sites to five lakh poor people in the first phase. Deputy Commissioners had been directed to identify government land and, where it was unavailable, explore private land or develop new layouts, he said.

217 taluks affected by drought

Mr. Shivakumar said 217 taluks had been affected by the drought, and added that the government was taking steps to support farmers. He said the Agriculture Minister had been asked to select two taluks under the Negilayogi scheme for ploughing assistance and said that assistance would also be provided for tractors.

He said the government was also promoting youth participation through the Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas, with annual assistance of ₹10 lakh for each association to nurture the talents of youth aged 16 to 35.

On electoral rolls

On the revision of electoral rolls, Mr. Shivakumar alleged that BJP leaders had submitted applications seeking deletion of the names of poor people from the voters' list. He said steps had been taken to prevent the deletion of names without proper documentation.

He further alleged that attempts to win elections through "deception and conspiracies" amounted to an insult to the country and the Prime Minister, and said the right to vote was an important aspect of people's rights.

Focus on Bagair Hukum applications

Mr. Shivakumar said people should not encroach on forest land and directed those possessing unlicensed firearms to surrender them before November 1 and apply through the prescribed legal process.

He said guidance would be provided for the disposal of legally valid applications, including Bagair Hukum claims, and said instructions would be issued to ensure that people were not unnecessarily evicted. He also said the government had planned special programmes for developing cremation grounds under the Mukti Dham scheme.

Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre, MLA and former Minister K. Venkatesh, and other elected representatives and officials were present.