The State Government has received over 25,000 grievance redressal petitions in the Praja Seva Abhiyan, which was launched by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on September 5 at Kudligi in Vijayanagar district in Karnataka.

The Praja Seva Department has been launched to make the administration more responsive to people and ensure that their grievances are addressed and government schemes are delivered within the stipulated time.

Ministers would hold meetings at taluk headquarters on the first and third Saturdays of every month, while MLAs would conduct similar meetings at hobli centres.

Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Authority Chairperson Pushpa Amarnath said the initiative was aimed at taking the government to people’s doorsteps.

According to data shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, a total of 23,524 grievances were received, and 2,258 requests have been registered, taking the total to 25,782.

Grievances pertaining to the Revenue Department are the highest among the departments, with 8,355, followed by the Housing Department (3,341), the Urban Development Department (3,836), the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department (3,167), and the Food and Civil Supplies Department (1,344).

On September 5, Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda said the initiative would help bridge the gap between government departments and the public. “If Panchayat Development Officers, village assistants and electricity line personnel respond promptly to people’s grievances, nearly 90% of their problems can be resolved,” he said.

He stressed that applications received during the first meeting should be resolved by the subsequent meeting. If any grievance could not be addressed, the concerned officials should provide a valid reason, he added.

How Praja Seva Abhiyan will work

A calendar of events is being prepared to cover all taluks and hoblis in three to four months, and former members of zilla panchayats, taluk panchayats, other local bodies, and other leaders will be invited to the meetings.

The abhiyan will be locally notified to people at least 15 days in advance with door-to-door distribution of handbills which will have an application format and list of documents needed for verification. People can also lodge their grievances on 1902. Besides, facilities to file online applications will be set up in places where the abhiyan will be held.

An AI-based call centre will be set up to inform the public of the time, place and the details of the Minister or legislator who will chair the abhiyan. People can track the status of their complaints online.

A data-based and paperless integrated public grievance redressal system has been developed for the purpose. The applications will be reviewed every Wednesday at three levels. Unresolved applications or grievances will be automatically escalated to higher authorities.

One secretary has been appointed as in-charge of a district. The secretary will visit the district on the first and third Friday to review and oversee preparation for the Janaseva Abhiyans to be held on the first and third Saturdays.

The Chief Minister will review the grievance redressal system and assess the overall progress of districts.