PUBLIC GRIEVANCES – SOLUTION

                                    PUBLIC GRIEVANCES – SOLUTION

As per media reports, central govt has advised all Secretaries of Ministries with public interface, to address 10 public grievances PER WEEK PERSONALLY. Additional Secretaries / CMDs to attend 20 and Joint secretaries to address 30 public grievances PERSONALLY PER WEEK. Maximum limit set is 60 days for redressal. Though the objective to address public grievances speedily and fairly is laudable, as part of good governance, this advice will not work even in short run, since majority of bureaucrats are having expertise to puncture such initiatives especially if it is pro-citizen coming from politicians and is likely to increase work load.

My suggestion to contain harassment due to delay and indifference by Govt servants and to reduce daily retail corruption in govt offices all over India, it is advisable to revive  CITIZENS RIGHT TO GRIEVANCE REDRESS BILL 2011, which has now lapsed in Parliament. Unless citizens are empowered by legislation [like RTI Act], they can only beg for proper delivery of services by govt servants from  Chief/Principal secretaries to village revenue officer. If this act is passed or promulgated by way of ordinance, common Indians will solve their own grievances pending with govt by themselves. In-built provision of penalty to public servants in such laws, speeds up timely and proper redressal. Advices or orders without penalty will not sensitize bureaucracy.  Many BJP ruled States [Maharashtra, Goa, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP etc] have such State acts and many non-BJP States [Karnataka, UP, Kerala, Orissa etc] too have such law.

In case if BJP/NDA and Central Govt sincerely desire to address public grievances effectively and contain retail corruption as part of good governance, Central Govt should have such a law urgently for central services, rather than leaving public at the mercy of Secretaries, to whom common Indians cannot even reach from small towns and villages.  It is also necessary to effectively implement and not dilute such laws in future, like RTI Act.

I hope Central Govt will review effect of above advice to weekly personally attend public grievances by Secretaries/CMDs,  on quarterly basis.

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