Cuttack, Feb 29: The State government on Sunday  announced a three-fold hike in Lawyers’ Welfare Fund from Rs 1 cr to Rs 3 cr.

Addressing the State level convention of BJD Legal Front at the Baliyatra ground here, chief minister Naveen Patnaik also announced implementation of the Madhu Babu Legal Aid scheme from the next year.

“This initiative of launching BJD Legal Front is a significant step towards the legal empowerment of the people of Odisha”, Patnaik said.

Expressing happiness over the announcement, the convenor of the outfit Milan Kanungo said that the Front will strive to unite the legal fraternity i the State and work for the betterment of the common man.

“We want the front should unite all lawyers of the State for the betterment of the common people,” he said.

The Front, he said will also work to make the justice delivery system more accessible for common people and strive to make the development process meaningful while cooperating in implementation of pro-people measures of the government.

The Legal Front was conceptualised by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to bring about unity among lawyers for the betterment of society, he said and added this is the first time that such an attempt has been made.

As many as 10,000 lawyers from across the State participated in the convention organised at the historic Balijatra ground in the Silver City.

Notably, the Front was launched by the Chief Minister on November 22, last year.

He had announced to set up a Law Commission while addressing the 44th annual conference of All Odisha Lawyers’ Association at Cuttack in December last year.