Bengaluru, 20 June

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday announced establishing a new department, to be named 'Prajaseva,' and to be headed by a minister, to streamline public grievance redressal.

After chairing a cabinet meeting here, he said district ministers would be required to hold regular public interactions across all Assembly constituencies to address citizens' concerns.

The cabinet meeting also decided to provide a 15-day window for eligible people residing in buildings completed before 31 May 2000, to apply for permanent electricity connections by furnishing photographic and GPS evidence.

"The first decision we have taken today concerns public grievances. People have many problems. When district ministers visit, when the Chief Minister meets people, or when protests are held, we must respond to their feelings and issues," Shivakumar told reporters after the second cabinet meeting of his government.

He said the government would establish a separate Prajaseva Department with an exclusive minister and dedicated administrative machinery to examine petitions and ensure timely responses from the administration.

"We are creating a separate ministry called the Prajaseva Department (Public service department). A separate minister will be assigned responsibility for this department," he said.

Shivakumar said a senior IAS officer would head the grievance-monitoring mechanism and applications submitted to ministers, including those received directly by the Chief Minister, would be routed through the department for review and follow-up.

As part of the initiative, district ministers would be mandated to conduct weekly grievance-redressal and public outreach meetings at the taluk level in the presence of local legislators.

"For all the 224 Assembly constituencies, district ministers will be required to visit one taluk every week and conduct public interaction meetings and grievance-redressal meetings under the auspices of Prajaseva Department," he said.

On the issue of permanent electricity and water connections, Shivakumar said the government had decided to relax certain conditions following representations from residents affected by some restrictions.

He said buildings completed before 31 May 2000, and currently having temporary electricity connections, would be allowed to seek permanent residential connections.

"People whose buildings were completed before 31 May 2000, who currently have temporary electricity connections and who have applied for permanent residential connections, will be given 15 days from the date the Government Order is issued," he said.

The Chief Minister clarified that applicants would be required to submit photographs and GPS coordinates of existing structures and that no new constructions would be allowed to avail the benefit.

Shivakumar said detailed guidelines would be incorporated in the Government Order before its issuance and that local bodies would be responsible for implementing the decision thereafter.