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Kumbalanghi to become `litigation-free village' soon

Staff Reporter

Legal Aid Project for achieving the objective launched

KOCHI: Chief Justice of Kerala High Court V.K. Bali has said that 90 per cent of the litigations in the country are egocentric or based on petty fights and hence of no consequences. However, these litigations are affecting the economic stability of many families.

Inaugurating the Legal Aid Project being implemented by the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) with assistance from the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) and Kumbalanghi panchayat here on Tuesday, he said majority of the litigations could be avoided by maintaining a friendly social atmosphere.

The project is meant to convert Kumbalanghi into a `litigation-free village'. Kumbalanghi has the distinction of becoming India's first model tourism village.

Addressing the gathering, S.G. Bhat, Vice-Chancellor, NUALS, said that with tourism activities increasing, chances of litigations shooting up in the village were high. A preliminary survey done by students of NUALS showed that there was already a good amount of litigation arising out of the village, he said.

The project is being implemented over a period of three years. This aims at educating, enlightening and empowering the people of the village to make it `litigation-free'.

In the first phase, legal aid will be provided to the public to identify the existing litigation problems and solve them. Legal education will be given to the public to minimise the litigation in future.

This phase is being implemented with active support from the panchayat and Kudumbasree units. Awareness classes will be held on a weekly basis.

Legal aid units will be set up during the next phase, under the initiative of students of NUALS, lawyers of the Kerala High Court and lower courts with guidance from the KELSA. Students of NUALS are planning to set up legal aid units on the campus and spread the project to other parts of the State.

Sebastian Paul, MP, inaugurated the distribution of Kisan Cards being issued to Kudumbasree units in association with the Central Bank of India, Mattanchery branch.

An amount of Rs.1 crore was disbursed to 125 units in the village at an interest of seven per cent. Each unit will get up to Rs.25,000. Both the legal aid unit and distribution of Kisan Cards will go a long way in empowering the local population. Awareness on legal support and economic betterment would reduce the conflicts in society, Mr. Paul said.

The social framework of Kumbalanghi, which did not have a police station, was conducive for getting rid of litigation, he said. Presiding over the function, C.M. Dinesh Mani, MLA, said the project would help the village in regaining its past glory.

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