Praja Seva Department launched to make administration responsive: Minister

Inaugurating the Praja Seva Andolana meeting organised by the district administration at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan in Hunsur, Dr. Yathindra said the new department had been launched across the State on Saturday, with Hunsur hosting the first Praja Seva Andolana meeting in the district.

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

“People will lose faith in the administration if they are made to run from pillar to post without their grievances being resolved within the stipulated time. Such a situation could make people turn against the administrative system,” he said.

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.

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

Under the five guarantee schemes, around ₹700 crore had been directly credited to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries in Hunsur taluk, she said. The State government would strive to resolve people’s problems and enable them to lead a life of dignity, setting an example for the Union government, she added.

During the meeting, members of the public submitted petitions seeking redressal of issues related to roads, electricity, boundary demarcation, house construction and caste certificates, among others.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Yukesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aishwarya, DCF Seema, Tahsildar Manjunath and others were present.