Poor people and ethnic minorities will no longer have to pay for legal services, according to a decision issued by the Prime Minister last week.Decision 59, which takes effect from February 15, will apply to economically challenged communes in coastal, island and border areas as well as mountainous areas where ethnic people live.These communes are not included in the 61 districts specified in the recent poverty reduction policy resolution.To make legal services more accessible, each local commune will be provided with VND6 million ($285) annually to establish legal assistance clubs and another VND8 million (over $380) to organize related activities.Additionally, qualified local Government officials will be given financial support to attend legal courses.Ngo Thi Chinh, deputy chairman of the People's Committee of northern Yen Bai Province, said the decision, which would be applied to 32 poor communes in the province, would help improve people's awareness of the law and thus protect their rights. (Vietnam News Jan 2)
