Gone will be the days of unfriendly, unresponsive and unapproachable bureaucrats. You will not be asked come again many times over, each time with a new document to get your certificate. And, you will not be forced to visit the panchayat offices repeatedly as the official dealing with your case is on leave.
If the words of the Local Self Government Department (LSGD) officials here are to be believed, Kottayam is in the race to be declared 100% ‘people-friendly’ and ‘good governance’ district in the State.
Declaration in 14
“Out of the 71 grama panchayats, we have already covered more than 60. In fact, 14 of them which complied with the stipulations have already been declared people-friendly,” says M. Suseel, superintendent at the office of the deputy director of the Local Self Government Department (LSGD), who is overseeing the implementation of the new initiative. The performance audit wing of the department on Wednesday conducted the inspection regarding the compliance level. The result will now be scrutinised and changes will be made in panchayats found wanting in specific areas.
Workshop
While the dates are to be finalised for the official declaration, a workshop for LSGD officials and elected Panchayati Raj members has been scheduled for June 28 at Manarcadu. Former Chief Secretary S. Vijayanand will lead the business at the conference. Changes in governance commences from the front office, according to Mr. Suseel.
It will start functioning before 10 a.m. so that citizens who come to the panchayat office could be welcomed.
Exhaustive checklist
“With each application form we will provide the checklist of documents needed for the service sought by the applicant,” he said.
An exhaustive checklist has been prepared to cover various purposes. This will help overcome repeated visits to the office.
Up to three persons will be designated to the front offices, he said. The LSGD has also made a number of services online. While these could be accessed from home or Akshaya centres, the front office too would help, if need be.
One of the redeeming features of the new initiative is the decision to provide each section in each panchayat office with a dedicated mobile number.
Same mobile number
“Even if the official has been transferred the mobile number will hold, and you will be able to do your follow-up,” Mr. Suseel said. The minutes of the panchayat meetings will be made available online.
S. Jyotsna Mol, deputy director, LSGD, said the turn around to governance could be carried out with the existing manpower and infrastructure.
The existing rules are sufficient for the implementation of the initiative, she said.
Now, the department is in the race to complete the implementation at the earliest.
