YS Jagan releases first tranche of Rs 6.12-Cr Law Nestham fund, wants lawyers to help the poor

AMARAVATI: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released Rs 6, 12, 65,000 towards the first tranche of YSR Law Nestham for 2023-24 benefiting 2,677 junior advocates. An amount of Rs 25,000 each, covering five months from February 2023, would be credited directly into their bank accounts.

Releasing the amount virtually with the click of a button at the camp office on Monday, the Chief Minister said that YSR Law Nestham was intended to handhold junior advocates by helping them settle down in the profession in the initial three years after enrolment.

Andhra Pradesh was the only state in the country that had been implementing Law Nestham to help junior advocates, he said, adding that the second tranche would be released in December. Under the programme, the Government would pay a stipend of Rs 60,000 every year in instalments for three years.

“The Government wants the benefiting junior advocates to stand by the poor during their practice. My fond hope is that the advocates will do good for the poor people,” he said.

So far, 5,781 junior advocates received Rs 41.52 crore under the scheme, he said, adding that the Government had set up a Rs 100 crore Advocates Welfare Trust to help them financially.

In the last four years, the Trust had provided financial assistance of Rs 25 crore for facilitating group medi-claim policies and loans. Junior advocates seeking assistance under the scheme could contact the Law Secretary.

Junior advocates who benefited from the scheme interacted with the Chief Minister virtually from several districts. Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, Law Secretary G Prabhakar, senior officials of the Law department and senior advocates were also present.