All arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of ‘Karuthal 2015’, the mass contact programme by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, in Kottayam. Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Minister for Transport and Forests, and District Collector U.V. Jose said out of the 12,114 applications so far received, 9,314 have been disposed of.
Mr. Radhakrishnan said special care would be taken to avoid the system of taking bed-ridden patients to the Chief Minister. Instead, a close relative of the patient, with relevant documents could come, he said. As a measure to avoid the rush of applicants to the venue, the Chief Minister, after reviewing the applications of 100 selected applicants, would come down to the people who would be seated in the large pandal. Special seating arrangements have been made for the differently-abled persons who arrive for the mass contact programme.
It has also been decided to meet new applicants between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and also after 5 p.m., Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
Online applications
According to Mr. Jose, all the 9,314 applications received online have been disposed of. There would be 30 counters at the venue for the people to submit new applications. In addition, 11 counters will be opened for the benefit of the applicants to know the status of their complaints.
Special buses
According to Mr. Radhakrishnan, the mass contact programme is expected to continue late into the night. KSRTC would operate special services late into the night.
The arrangements are being overseen by the District Collector, Additional District Magistrate T.V. Subhash and Revenue Divisional Officer K.S. Savithri. In addition to MPs and MLAs from the district, departmental heads and other officers would attend the programme.