Bhubaneswar, 28th Aug 2025: The government is giving importance to women’s legal literacy, awareness, and assistance at the grassroots level. For this purpose, para-legal volunteers will be appointed in every panchayat. They will make women aware of laws like PSS and DNSS.
If any woman becomes a victim of violence, she should first inform the para-legal volunteer. They will help the victim with the initial judicial process as well as subsequent legal procedures. After a meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan provided this information.
The Minister further said that at the grassroots level, para-legal volunteers will take women’s problems to the police station and the court. This new position will be formally created. Women will also be made aware of their rights. Priority will be given to ensuring legal access for ordinary and tribal families. Anganwadi workers will also be involved in this initiative. In the coming days, this program will be expanded to include backward classes and Scheduled Tribes.
It is noteworthy that on Tuesday, an important meeting of the Law Department was held at Lok Seva Bhawan with this objective. Discussions were held on key questions such as: Whom should women victims of violence approach? Who will guide them legally at the grassroots level? Where should they go for solutions?
It was decided that para-legal volunteers, Anganwadi workers, and social workers will work together at the grassroots level to raise women’s legal awareness, provide help and cooperation, and ensure they reach the right place for justice.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Deputy Chief Minister and Women & Child Development Minister Pravati Parida, Principal Secretary of Women & Child Development Department Subha Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Law Department Manas Ranjan Barik, noted social worker and former Information Commissioner Jagadananda, and other senior officials.