NEW DELHI, June 24: The Access to Justice Project(A2.J) launched with much fanfare by the Government for providing legal services to the people at the grass root level has failed to make much impact.
The scheme envisaged training of the para legal workers of the community and creating the much needed linkages between legal Services Authorities and civil society organisations.
However, the Ministry of Law and Justice failed to exhaust the allocations earmarked for the project for last consecutive five years of the 11th Five Year Plan.
A Parliamentary report says that “there is a lot of scope still left for implementation of the scheme, so the Government should make concerted efforts to expand the area and scope of operation of the scheme in its new phase starting from next year.”
The Ministry has also failed to use the allocated money for e-courts scheme which has been launched to help in efficient management of subordinates courts, reduction of pending cases and speeding up delivery of justice.
However, the expenditure of the Ministry in the last five year was well below the allocation projected.
“This underutilisation of funds is indicative of not achieving the target,” the Report said.
The Government has been asked to fix timelines and targets for states while releasing funds, and determine parameters for assessing their progress in the implementation of the scheme.
The Ministry has also come under fire for poor implementation of the Gram Nyayalaya Act. In almost three years after enactment of the Act, only 151 gram nyayalayas are operational.
Some states have asked for higher central assistance, which the committee said should be given serious consideration.
The Committee has also taken note of the fact that 13th Finance Commission has recommended an impresisve grant of Rs 5,000 crore to be utilised between 2010-15 out of which a mere Rs 1,353.62 crore has been utilised.
“This reflects the tardy pace of the Department in the implementation of the schemes,” it said. (UNI)
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