logo
Grievance redress gets boost with tech, community camps: CM Rekha Gupta

Grievance redress gets boost with tech, community camps: CM Rekha Gupta

The Hindu4 hours ago

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday (June 22, 2025) said the Delhi Government is adopting hi-tech systems and increasing direct engagement with citizens to address public grievances more effectively.
Asserting that resolving citizens' complaints was her administration's 'core commitment', Ms. Gupta said the Delhi government was implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'vision of transparent, time-bound governance'.
'To resolve issues efficiently, problems are being addressed in public hearing centers under the leadership of the District Magistrates (DMs) on weekends. A 24x7 Public Grievance Monitoring System (PGMS) is also operational,' the Chief Minister stated.
Public outreach
According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), on her directions, jan sunwayi (public hearing) camps are now being held every weekend across all 11 revenue districts. These camps are chaired by DMs and attended by senior officials from various departments, including the Municipal Corporation and Delhi Police.
'To make the process more citizen-friendly, these hearings are being held in community spaces such as schools, local chaupals, and banquet halls rather than restricting them to government offices,' the CMO said.
In these camps, officials attempt to resolve grievances on the spot. Unresolved matters are referred to the departments concerned for timely follow-up. The hearings also see the participation of local MLAs, municipal councillors, Resident Welfare Associations, and residents.
'Over 600 citizens attended the most recent weekend camps. Earlier, 1,260 people participated on May 17 and over 1,350 on May 24. These are more than grievance redressal events. They reflect a commitment towards listening and acting promptly,' said the CMO in a statement.
Last month, the Chief Minister instructed the installation of 'complaint and suggestion' boxes at the offices of DMs, Sub-District Magistrates, and Sub-Registrars. The CMO will monitor the input received. She also asked officials to draft a plan for receiving complaints via WhatsApp, mobile apps, and toll-free numbers, especially after reports that the existing portal for filing service-related complaints had become unreliable.
Last month, Ms. Gupta directed officials to attend District Development Committee (DDC) meetings, chaired by MLAs, and ensure their presence at the jan sunwayi camps.
Chief Minister Gupta said she also makes it a point to meet citizens personally at her residence to address their issues directly. 'Public trust is our greatest strength. Our government is alert, compassionate, and committed to resolving every issue. We are enacting Prime Minister Modi's belief that governance should be about service, not control. We are fully committed to serving the people with accountability,' she said.
Responding to the CM's remarks, the Aam Aadmi Party said in a statement, 'The people of Delhi are fed up. From skyrocketing school fees to jhuggi demolitions, power cuts, water shortages, and waterlogging, Delhiites are hitting the streets in protest.'
The party claimed that the people of Delhi are fondly recalling the previous Arvind Kejriwal-led government's effective governance. 'In contrast, the BJP is running a clueless administration. What's the point of the BJP's jan sunwai drama when not a single problem is actually being solved on the ground?' it said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

7 Delhi trades no longer need police licence
7 Delhi trades no longer need police licence

Hindustan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

7 Delhi trades no longer need police licence

In a move that will bring relief to thousands of commercial establishments in the national capital, lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena issued a directive doing away with the requisite of Delhi Police licensing clearance for seven types of trades, according to an order perused by HT. Trade confederations, industries and stakeholders welcomed the move, saying it is likely to simplify regulations and reduce multiple licensing and NoC burden. (HT Archive) The seven trades were listed as 'hotel/motel/guest houses, all eating houses or restaurants, swimming pools, discotheque, video game parlor, amusement park, and auditoriums' in Delhi. The government has said that this will reduce the burden on the police and improve ease of doing business. An order issued by the LG VK Saxena dated June 19, 2025, said: 'I have now taken a considered view to repeal the regulations under Section 28 (1) of the Delhi Police Act, 1978, covering the seven trade activities mentioned at Para 1. In exercise of powers under section 28 (2) read with section 4 of Delhi Police Act, 1978, I hereby withdraw the sanction granted to Commissioner of Police, Delhi, for issuance of regulations under Section 28 (1) of the Delhi Police Act, Commissioner of Police is directed to issue a notification repealing the said regulations with immediate effect.' An officer with the licensing unit of Delhi Police said: 'We will follow the order as it comes to us. There's always shortage of staff in security, traffic , crime branch and other departments. This could help as some staff could be transferred there.' Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said: 'Now the licensing process related to seven business sectors has been taken away from the police and handed over to the municipal bodies and related departments... Union home minister Amit Shah has also been of the clear opinion that the police force should be freed from non-core tasks and its energy and resources should be focused on law and order, security and crime control. Freeing the police force from non-core tasks in a highly pressurised metropolis like Delhi is in line with his policy.' Gupta said that this was an ideal example of the Centre-state coordination and public welfare governance. 'Delhi Police was burdened with the responsibility of licensing for years... this will not only increase coordination in the administrative structure, but will also help the police to focus on important areas like law and order, crime control and women's safety.' Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said: 'Once again, it is evident how quickly the aspirations of Delhi residents are being fulfilled with the formation of a 'Triple Engine' government.' The LG's order said that the commissioner had notified regulations for issuing licences, no-objection certificates and permissions for these trades, without the LG's sanction and that the same stood withdrawn. Saxena said that the move ensures 'minimum government and maximum governance', as it does away with multiple licensing regimes. The order states that Delhi high court and Supreme Court have previously said that the Delhi Police should be 'focusing on law and order' rather than 'responsibility of licensing' and that 'existing system of police granting licences should be abolished'. A government official said that a committee under the chairmanship of the additional chief secretary (home), with officers of Delhi Police, law and IT departments of the Delhi government was constituted to look into the entire gamut of licences and NoCs. 'After considering the report of the committee, the then chief secretary while observing that Delhi Police is facing a shortage of staff, which affects its core policing duties, recommended that Delhi Police be relieved of the responsibilities of regulating licences in the respect of above seven trades,' the Raj Niwas order states. To be sure, civic bodies, such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council and Delhi Cantonment Board have also framed regulations to regulate these trade activities in terms of provisions of their respective acts. The licensing by Delhi Police was an additional layer. 'The overlapping of regulations issued under Delhi Police Act, 1978, and Municipal Laws, by multiple authorities for the above-mentioned activities, is impinging the overall ease of doing business,' Saxena said in the order, citing examples of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa, which have also implemented such a move previously. Trade confederations, industries and stakeholders welcomed the move, saying it is likely to simplify regulations and reduce multiple licensing and NoC burden on traders. Sandeep Anand Goyle, of the Delhi chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India, said the move was positive as it would bring more revenue to Delhi and increase investments in the HCR (hotels, clubs and restaurants) segment. 'Ease of doing business is expected from the order. The administration should ensure that on a unified licence portal, fire NoC, health trade licence and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) consent order can be obtained. Industry is now hoping for a positive new excise policy,' he said. Brijesh Goyal, who heads the Chamber of Trade and Industries (CTI) said that traders have had to obtain licences from multiple departments. 'There was no separate need for the licence of Delhi Police and the businessmen were not comfortable with the police licence. We had appealed to abolish the Delhi Police licence and welcome this move,' he said. However, former Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP), Vikram Singh, said that the order curtailing the authority of Delhi police commissioner is a retrograde step. 'There is more than what meets the eye. Making Delhi police a toothless tiger and denying them the authority under some protect or the other does not seem to be appropriate.'

Delhi govt holding weekly camps to resolve public grievances
Delhi govt holding weekly camps to resolve public grievances

Hindustan Times

time3 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Delhi govt holding weekly camps to resolve public grievances

The Delhi government is holding weekly Jan Sunwai camps led by the district magistrates to hear and resolve public grievances, the chief minister's office said on Sunday. These camps are being held in all revenue districts and are attended by officials from various departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Police, and the power department. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta. (ANI) Chief minister Rekha Gupta said that she also meets people at her residence to personally address their concerns. 'Public trust is our greatest strength. Our government is alert, compassionate and fully committed to resolving every public issue,' she said. These programmes are held at government offices and community spaces such as schools, local chaupals and banquet halls, the chief minister's office said. Delhi also has a 24x7 Public Grievance Monitoring System (PGMS) to ensure continuous redressal of complaints, the statement added. Complaint boxes are being placed outside government offices to allow people to submit their complaints easily, the statement said. The Jan Sunwai camps receive complaints about departments such as revenue, Delhi Jal Board, PWD, food and civil supplies, social welfare, health, Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), education, irrigation and flood control, among others. Complaints are also received about the Delhi Police and MCD, covering issues such as encroachments, dark spots, sanitation, potable water, sewage problems, stray animals, road maintenance, illegal constructions, non-functional street lights and tree pruning, it added. Officers at the camps attempt to resolve issues on the spot and unresolved issues are referred to the concerned departments for timely action, the statement said. Recently, Jan Sunwai camps were organised in subdivisions like Model Town, Kanjhawala, Seelampur, Kotwali, Civil Lines, Karol Bagh, Vasant Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Kapashera, Sarita Vihar and Dwarka. More than 600 people attended the most recent weekend camps. At least 1,260 people participated in the Jan Sunwai camps held on May 17, and more than 1,350 people participated in the camps on May 24.

Grievance redress gets boost with tech, community camps: CM Rekha Gupta
Grievance redress gets boost with tech, community camps: CM Rekha Gupta

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Grievance redress gets boost with tech, community camps: CM Rekha Gupta

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday (June 22, 2025) said the Delhi Government is adopting hi-tech systems and increasing direct engagement with citizens to address public grievances more effectively. Asserting that resolving citizens' complaints was her administration's 'core commitment', Ms. Gupta said the Delhi government was implementing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'vision of transparent, time-bound governance'. 'To resolve issues efficiently, problems are being addressed in public hearing centers under the leadership of the District Magistrates (DMs) on weekends. A 24x7 Public Grievance Monitoring System (PGMS) is also operational,' the Chief Minister stated. Public outreach According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), on her directions, jan sunwayi (public hearing) camps are now being held every weekend across all 11 revenue districts. These camps are chaired by DMs and attended by senior officials from various departments, including the Municipal Corporation and Delhi Police. 'To make the process more citizen-friendly, these hearings are being held in community spaces such as schools, local chaupals, and banquet halls rather than restricting them to government offices,' the CMO said. In these camps, officials attempt to resolve grievances on the spot. Unresolved matters are referred to the departments concerned for timely follow-up. The hearings also see the participation of local MLAs, municipal councillors, Resident Welfare Associations, and residents. 'Over 600 citizens attended the most recent weekend camps. Earlier, 1,260 people participated on May 17 and over 1,350 on May 24. These are more than grievance redressal events. They reflect a commitment towards listening and acting promptly,' said the CMO in a statement. Last month, the Chief Minister instructed the installation of 'complaint and suggestion' boxes at the offices of DMs, Sub-District Magistrates, and Sub-Registrars. The CMO will monitor the input received. She also asked officials to draft a plan for receiving complaints via WhatsApp, mobile apps, and toll-free numbers, especially after reports that the existing portal for filing service-related complaints had become unreliable. Last month, Ms. Gupta directed officials to attend District Development Committee (DDC) meetings, chaired by MLAs, and ensure their presence at the jan sunwayi camps. Chief Minister Gupta said she also makes it a point to meet citizens personally at her residence to address their issues directly. 'Public trust is our greatest strength. Our government is alert, compassionate, and committed to resolving every issue. We are enacting Prime Minister Modi's belief that governance should be about service, not control. We are fully committed to serving the people with accountability,' she said. Responding to the CM's remarks, the Aam Aadmi Party said in a statement, 'The people of Delhi are fed up. From skyrocketing school fees to jhuggi demolitions, power cuts, water shortages, and waterlogging, Delhiites are hitting the streets in protest.' The party claimed that the people of Delhi are fondly recalling the previous Arvind Kejriwal-led government's effective governance. 'In contrast, the BJP is running a clueless administration. What's the point of the BJP's jan sunwai drama when not a single problem is actually being solved on the ground?' it said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store