In Srikakulam, a district in Andhra Pradesh, people do not have to go to government offices to get their work done. Instead, the government officials themselves come to their doorstep to solve their problems. Under the leadership of District Collector and 2011-batch IAS officer Shrikesh B Lathkar, the administration is solving hundreds of grievances cases daily in this manner.
Under the ‘Jagananna Suraksha’ initiative, camps have been set up across the district to hear people’s problems. This initiative has now turned into a hassle-free grievance redressal service. Between 1-31 July, more than 3.27 lakhs grievances were reported, making the Srikakulam district one of the best in the state to hear grievances in such large numbers.
In a similar initiative, Collector Lathkar is also trying to solve the grievances of the government employees by organising a Grievance Day for them on every Friday. Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Lathkar gave details about both the initiatives.
JAGANANNA SURAKSHA
‘Jagananna Suraksha’ came into force in the last week of June, after it was launched on 1 July by the CM. Till now, it has helped lakhs of families by providing immediate solutions to their long-pending issues, across the state.
The administration aims at taking the welfare schemes and development initiatives to the doorstep of the people. The initiative offers 20 types of certificates free of cost and delivers the services to the people either at their doorstep or at the nearby secretariat.
Mr. Lathkar said, “The initiative has become a big problem-solving tool for public. In the month-long programme, people participated with full enthusiasm. We set up camps in every Gram and ward sachivalayam. There are more than 700 sachivalayam in the districts. The purpose behind this initiative is 100 per cent coverage of welfare schemes to all eligible persons.”
THE PROCESS
Sachivalayam or secretariat is the main platform for this initiative. Here, people come and register their problems and needs, and then, volunteers follow up the redressal process. They distribute certificates as well. The volunteers and staff from village and ward secretariats also visited each household and identified the services required by the people.
More than 7 lakhs households have been covered so far. Apart from village and ward secretariat staff, there is a large number of volunteers working in these initiatives with officials of various departments.
Mr. Lathkar said, “From July 1 to July 31, a total 3,27,343 grievances were reported from 7,33,037 families through 732 secretariats across the district.”
Category wise, a total of 3,27,343 grievances were reported and 3,04,023 issues were related to the revenue department, 19,705 to Aadhar Card corrections, 2,392 related to civil supplies department, 527 related to village and ward secretariats, 314 to medical, health and family grievances are 314, 162 to agriculture department, and so on.
The certificates that are provided under this initiative are integrated caste certificate, income certificate, birth certificate, death certificate, marriage certificate, mutations for transactions and corrections, family member certificate, mobile number updation in Aadhaar card, crop cultivator rights card (CCRC), new or split of old rice cards and new cards and household registration certificate.
EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCES
Under the employee grievances initiative, about 26 employees registered their grievances. Mr. Lathkar said that all these grievances will be forwarded to the government for permanent solution. “It is an opportunity to the government employees to explain their difficulties and get them solved as per rules and regulations, but they should register their problems with proof and facts.”
