Soon, UT depts to have their own citizens’ charters

As per the directions issued by the MHA, every department has to be clear within, as well as to the citizens, as regards its vision.

The directions state that the charter should clearly identify the services, which would be provided by the department to attain its mission and vision. The charter should list all the services, which would be made available through its various agencies. The charter also seeks to make it mandatory for the government officials to acknowledge complaints from the public with receipt.

The charter seeks to set up a grievance redressal mechanism for fast disposal of the complaints.

The aim is to increase transparency and improve responsiveness in governance, says a senior UT official. It is expected that the Citizens' Charters of all the departments will be put online with effect from January 15. A meeting to review the status of Citizens' Charters in this regard was held on Friday.

The Citizens' Charters of Departments of Labour, Agriculture, Excise and Taxation, Health, Cooperation, Education, Transport and Government Medical College and Hospital which are in place were reviewed. Directions were issued to these departments to revise their Citizens' Charters by updating the services being covered and the time frame for delivering them. The remaining departments were asked to frame their Citizens' Charters and upload the same on the Chandigarh Administration's website latest by January 15.

The meeting was attended by Anil Kumar, home secretary, Satya Gopal, secretary food supplies and consumer affairs, D K Tiwari, secretary environment and forest & wildlife, M Shayin, deputy commissioner, Ajoy Sharma, special secretary finance, Prerna Puri, additional secretary personnel, and other senior officers of the administration.

In the past, the ministry of personnel and public grievances had made the Citizens' Charter mandatory for all the departments of the administration, but it was not being followed as webpages of many departments were not even available on the UT administration's website.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) was given the task of coordinating, formulating and operationlising Citizens' Charters. The guidelines for formulating the charters as well as a list of dos and don'ts were communicated to all the state governments.

The MHA has also sent the format prepared by the DARPG to the UT.

The states were also asked to set up a grievance redressal system.

ALSO READ

UT makes public notice a must for property transfer

On a Dosa Drive

Babus, netas overstaying in govt accommodation told to evict in a month

Shell out more for your ride: Auto, taxi fares hiked