Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who launched the ambitious Sakala project that promises time-bound delivery of services to citizens, now wants to take the lead in pushing for a legislation at the Centre that covers all central services.
Speaking after inaugurating Sakala (Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act 2011) on a pilot basis for the Jayanagar constituency, he said he will write to all the chief ministers urging them to demand implementation of the central legislation to cover services like the Railways and the Post and Telegraphs. “If necessary, I will take a delegation to the Centre demanding it,” he said, in response to a suggestion made by H.N. Ananth Kumar, BJP MP.
‘Betrayal'
Mr. Kumar had earlier said that the Opposition would push for the Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of Their Grievances Bill 2011, which is still to become an Act.
The UPA Government had “betrayed people's faith” by not ushering in the legislation. This would be an important agenda in the coming parliamentary session starting on March 12, he said.
Mr. Gowda said that Sakala was not aimed at harassing the bureaucracy, but at ensuring transparency and speed in governance. Under Sakala, an official who does not furnish documents on time will be fined at the rate of Rs. 20 per day, to a maximum of Rs. 500.
Minister for Urban Development S. Suresh Kumar said that the legislation in Karnataka covers 151 services in 11 departments, while those in states like Bihar cover about 40 to 50 services. The pilot project has also been introduced in four taluks in Bidar, Chitradurga, Dharwad and Dakshina Kannada districts, besides Jayanagar constituency in Bangalore.
