Gone are the days when citizens were forced to run from pillar to post to address civic issues in the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK). Now, they can lodge a complaint pertaining to civic issues such as garbage, streetlights, drainage, encroachment, dead animals, illegal constructions, etc. by just sending a picture and text message to the MCK WhatsApp grievance group.
Taking a cue from Minister for IT and Municipal Administration K. Taraka Rama Rao to form a WhatsApp group to solve civic problems, MCK Commissioner Krishna Bhaskar launched the grievance group three months ago, involving officials, academicians, NGOs, and selected citizens.
Earlier, the citizens were confused about whom to approach to get their problem solved. Now, it is very simple. They can file their complaint on the WhatsApp group and get the problem solved instantly. The group is administered by the MCK Commissioner and DE Shankar.
Ever since the group was launched, roadside vendors at the main vegetable market opposite the Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Karimnagar town were completely relocated to the main Rythu bazaar at Gandhi road. Earlier, when the MCK authorities shifted the roadside vendors to Rythu bazaar, they used to come back and cause problems. But, with the help of the WhatsApp, the citizens were playing a responsible role and sending pictures of roadside vendors regularly.
“We are getting several complaints pertaining to civic issues and we are solving them as well,” said Mr. Bhaskar, adding that transparency too has increased among the employees of MCK.
He said that they were planning to increase the members in the WhatsApp group soon to receive more complaints and also solve them.
