With its new additions and upgraded facilities, the Kottarakara block panchayat is all set to receive the ISO certification for excellence in service.
According to the officials, all quality requirements needed for the certification are in place and the function will be held after the elections.
“It is part of the government initiative to upgrade all facilities in block and grama panchayats on par a with global standards and make them more public-friendly,” said S. Sasikumar, president.
The panchayat’s new front office ensures a hassle-free experience for the visitors, directing them to the right officials. But the highlight of the office is their new record room, where all documents are sorted and stored according to the year.
“The idea is to provide our services without any delay. All the old files are now kept in a very systematic way, making it easy to pull out a particular file, which means the public will not have to wait for long to get the documents,” he said.
The office now has a ramp for the differently-abled, while extra provisions have been arranged for women, children and the elderly. Name and designation of all the employees are displayed in front of them and the waiting room has been furnished with a television set.
Plastic-shredding unit
The Kottarakara block panchayat also has the biggest plastic shredding unit in the district functioning on its premises.
“It is a 2,400-sq.ft. facility supervised by Green Kerala Company. Plastic waste from some six blocks and also various other parts of the district are now being brought to the unit,” he said.
The staff of the plant sort all reusable plastic so that it can be baled and sold. “The rest is shredded and the processing is going on without any break,” he said.
