Karnataka govt to set up 'Praja Sevak Department' for grievance redressal
Bengaluru, June 20
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that the state cabinet has approved the creation of a new department aimed at strengthening grievance redressal and bringing governance closer to the people.
He further stated that all ministers will be required to visit at least one taluk every week to interact directly with citizens and address their concerns on the ground.
Speaking to the reporters, Karnataka CM said, "Today, in the cabinet, we have taken a major decision - a separate ministry will be formed, and a minister will also be given the responsibility of the public grievances of the entire state, where ministers may attend, even MLAs may attend. All the ministers will have to go to one taluk compulsarily one day every week. They will have to attend to the public and look into their grievances," he added.
He also said that a senior IAS officer will be appointed to oversee the functioning of the new department, supported by other officials, to ensure effective implementation of the outreach programme.
"We should not allow them to come to Bengaluru...It is called 'Praja Sevak Department'. Then I will see to it that even the MLAs go to all homes. A separate IAS officer will be given the responsibility, and apart from that, officers will be there," Karnataka CM said.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister met with a high-level delegation of Non-Resident Kannadigas (NRKs) representing 30 countries at the Vidhana Soudha (state legislature), seeking to strengthen the bond between the state and its global diaspora.
The delegation was led by the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, KH Muniyappa.
The CM expressed his pride in the achievements of the Kannada community worldwide.
"Kannadigas across the world have carried our language, culture and values to every corner of the globe while making significant contributions in diverse fields. Their achievements and enduring connection to Karnataka are a source of pride and inspiration for us all," Shivakumar posted on X.
During the interaction, the CM listened to the perspectives and aspirations of the NRK representatives regarding the future development of the state. He emphasised that the state government is keen on integrating the expertise of the global Kannada community into the state's growth narrative.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a Bengalurean who has faced the notorious BBMP and BESCOM issues, I welcome this move. But I have one concern - where is the accountability? If a minister skips their taluk visit, what happens? Also, will complaints filed in these visits actually get resolved, or will they just be added to the pile of pending grievances? We need a robust tracking system!
'Praja Sevak Department' - sounds nice, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We've seen so many such initiatives in the past. Remember the 'Janaspandana' program? It started with great fanfare but fizzled out. I hope this one has more teeth and a clear timeline for resolution of complaints. Otherwise, it's just a waste of taxpayer money on another bureaucratic layer.
Good to see CM Shivakumar taking proactive steps! The taluk-level outreach every week is a great idea - it will help ministers understand ground realities instead of sitting in their AC offices in Vidhana Soudha. But I'm curious about the budget allocation for this department. Will it have dedicated staff or will it be an additional burden on existing officials? 🤔
Interesting approach! In my home state (California), we have something similar called 'town hall meetings' but they're usually once a month, not weekly. This seems more intensive. I wonder how they'll measure success - will it be by number of complaints received or number actually resolved? Also, what about the NRK meeting? That's a smart move to tap into the diaspora for investment and expertise! 🌍
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