Days when people had to run from dept. to dept. to get routine work done should end, says Karnataka Chief Minister

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the launch of the new Praja Seva Department on Saturday, which aims to bring government services directly to citizens' doorsteps, providing swift resolution to their grievances. The initiative was unveiled in Kudligi, Vijayanagara district, as Shivakumar emphasized that people should no longer have to visit multiple government offices for routine tasks.

The administration should reach out to the public, addressing their concerns, he stated, adding, "The administration should come directly to the doorstep of the people."

The launch was carried out simultaneously across the State, with district in-charge Ministers spearheading the programs in their respective districts. Shivakumar engaged in a live interaction with the district in-charge Ministers, reviewing the launch activities and speaking directly with individuals who brought their grievances to the platform.

Before the initiative's formal launch, Shivakumar had received representations from citizens seeking redressal for their issues. He announced that the Praja Seva program would be implemented in all 224 Assembly constituencies. The Cabinet had agreed to ensure that elected representatives and officials would be accessible to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Ministers would head the program at the taluk and hobli levels, while MLAs would take charge at the gram panchayat level. If an MLA was unavailable, government officials were directed to personally visit the panchayat headquarters, listen to public grievances, and work towards finding solutions.

Shivakumar clarified that merely receiving applications and issuing acknowledgments would not be considered a success. Instead, the program's real success would be when a resolution reaches the applicant and brings a smile to their faces. The initiative would address a wide range of issues, including pensions, land disputes, government benefits, khata transfers, guarantee schemes, houses, and house sites.

Additionally, Shivakumar announced that the government would offer free legal assistance to poor and disadvantaged individuals involved in disputes before the tahsildar, Assistant Commissioner, or Deputy Commissioner. If an application was rejected, the applicant would be informed of the reasons, and the government would stand by the applicant until the issue was entirely resolved.

Addressing the State's drought situation, Shivakumar indicated that a decision on declaring more drought-affected taluks would be taken shortly after receiving the second-stage report, as surveys were ongoing in over 50 taluks. He also announced plans to establish Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas in villages, aiming to foster cultural, sports, and leadership talent among young people while strengthening democratic values and forming Guarantee scheme committees at every panchayat.