A web-based system for redressing complaints related to the Public Works Department, which can be utilised by the public and which will have a response facility for officials as well, will be put in place within one month, Finance and PWD Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said.
Delivering the presidential address at the inaugural function of the seven-day ‘Mararikulam Theerotsavam' here on Friday, Mr. Isaac said the web-based system would be preceded by a toll-free number, which the public can call to lodge any complaints regarding roads and public works. The number will be announced on Monday.
The complaints, the response and the action taken by the officials will be posted on the departmental website. Besides this, all PWD sub-division offices would have details of the repair and maintenance works taken up, the Minister said.
NH repair work
Stating that the national highways passing through the State had not seen any sort of repair or maintenance work for the last three years, he said the State had decided not to wait for Central funds for the purpose. It would utilise own funds and complete all repair and maintenance work by July 10, since about 80 per cent of the State's traffic was along the national highways.
Pointing out that some members of the public had raised objections to the temporary repair work taken up by the PWD, Mr. Isaac requested the cooperation of the public, stating that re-surfacing and large-scale patchworks on the State's roads could be taken up only after the monsoons, which were expected to gain strength this month.
For the time being, to mitigate the misery of road users, temporary repairs were being done.
Minimum wages
Mr. Isaac also announced that the government was planning to implement a minimum wage system for female employees of micro industrial enterprises of self-help groups (SHGs), including those run by Kudumbasree.
The ‘Theerotsavam', which will have seminars, exhibitions and cultural programmes and sale of products from panchayats, SHGs and other public participatory initiatives, mainly focusing on fisheries, coir and agriculture sectors, was inaugurated by Speaker K. Radhakrishnan. Coir Minister G. Sudhakaran and actor Kalpana also spoke.
