Latest news with #KarnatakaAdministrativeReformsCommission
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Administrative Reforms Commission proposes 189 new recommendations
Bengaluru: In a significant move towards enhancing governance efficiency, the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission (KARC), led by Chairman R.V. Deshpande, has submitted its eighth report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The report introduces 189 new recommendations aimed at streamlining administrative processes and improving public service delivery across the state. A key highlight of the report is the recommendation to fill approximately 15,000 vacant positions across 23 government departments. This initiative is expected to bolster administrative capacity and address service delivery challenges arising from staffing shortages. The report also emphasises the need to revisit the criteria for identifying Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. It suggests that the government consider revising the existing standards to more accurately reflect the socio-economic conditions of households, ensuring that welfare schemes reach the intended beneficiaries. To enhance transparency and accountability, the commission recommends the integration of various departmental databases, including ration cards, employee records, and birth-death registrations. Such integration aims to facilitate better data management and service delivery. Further, the report advocates for the establishment of centralized government stationery stores near key administrative buildings like Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha. It also calls for the cessation of issuing multiple income certificates to streamline administrative procedures. In terms of implementation, the Commission notes that out of the 5,039 recommendations made in its previous seven reports, approximately 30 per cent have been fully implemented, with over 53 per cent in various stages of execution. To ensure the effective realization of these recommendations, the report proposes the formation of a high-level monitoring committee and the adoption of digital tracking mechanisms to oversee progress and address any implementation challenges. The submission of this report marks a continued effort by the Karnataka government to reform and modernize its administrative framework, aiming for a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric governance model.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
State pushes for cleaner ration distribution system
Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission Siddaramaiah Antyodaya Anna Yojana The Food Inspector will act on the final verification results within one month by cancelling, suspending, or converting PHH cards to Non-Priority Household cards.' –report In a significant step to ensure that subsidised food grains reach only deserving families, a report by the sub-committee of the, presented to Chief Ministeron Thursday, proposed an intensive ground-level verification drive. The aim is to identify and eliminate ineligible ration card holders under the(AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) categories. The verification process will be carried out at the ward level in urban areas by specially constituted teams, in an effort to make the distribution system more transparent and per the new guidelines proposed by a sub-committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, each urban ward will have a three-member verification team comprising two members from the vigilance committee and one revenue officer or sanitation worker. These teams will visit households and verify the eligibility of ration card holders based on four exclusion criteria outlined by the state. The verification work must be completed within one month of receiving the list from the respective Urban Local Body (ULB).To maintain transparency, the report proposed that ULBs are mandated to publish the findings of the verification exercise within seven days. Lists of cardholders recommended for retention, suspension, or cancellation will be displayed for a period of three months at Fair Price Shops, on government websites, and on ward notice boards. If a cardholder is found ineligible due to the death of the original cardholder, their family will have a three-month window to revalidate their eligibility and claim benefits under a new or updated card. However, those who voluntarily surrender their cards will not be given this window.'After the preliminary list is released, a 15-day window will be given for the public to raise objections. Objections can be submitted either in person or online with appropriate supporting documents. The Food Inspector is required to cross-check at least 15% of the verified list to ensure accuracy. Following the resolution of objections, final lists of eligible and ineligible beneficiaries will be published again at all public locations and online', the report report recommended that the Food Inspector will act on the final verification results within one month by cancelling, suspending, or converting PHH cards to Non-Priority Household (NPHH) cards. An Action Taken Report (ATR) will be submitted to the district-level office to ensure record-keeping and accountability. If a beneficiary has not availed rations for six months or fails to respond to notices within three months, the card may be suspended. If the suspension exceeds three months or if exclusion criteria are met, the card will be converted to NPHH. In cases of voluntary surrender, proven fraud, or the death of the cardholder, the card will be cancelled safeguard the interests of eligible beneficiaries, the government has set up a robust appeals process. Any individual aggrieved by the decision of the ULB, Gram Panchayat, or Food Inspector can file an appeal before the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) within 30 days. Appeals can be filed online through an end-to-end digital platform and must be resolved within 30 days. During this period, appellants will continue to receive ration benefits. If the DGRO's decision is delayed or found unsatisfactory, a further appeal can be made to the State Commission, the report added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deshpande-led panel favours better management of govt.-run temples in Karnataka
The Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by veteran Congress leader and MLA R.V. Deshpande, has proposed over 189 reforms in various departments, especially the establishment of a comprehensive framework for better management of the State's 34,500 temples. The commission has proposed the creation of a temple task force to handle crowd control, emergency responses, ticketing, and distribution of prasad during festivals and large special events at temples. Mr. Deshpande submitted the commission's eighth report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday and new recommendations, aimed at revitalising key sectors such as temple management, food and civil supplies, government recruitment, healthcare to bring in better governance, transparency, and accountability in the delivery of public services. The panel is in favour of delegating the power to sanction new staff posts to the Endowment Commissioner, bypassing the current dependency on Finance Department approval in order to increase efficiency in temple operations and transparency. The temple staff salaries are funded by temple income and not the State Budget. So, the recommendation is expected to speed up appointments without additional financial burden on the government. To ensure transparency and check corruption in recruitment, and enhance the integrity of exams conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), the commission stated the installation of CCTV surveillance, mobile jammers, secure storage of question papers and answer sheets were mandatory, and a two-tier exam system to reduce candidate volumes and enhance monitoring. For providing digital governance, the commission recommended modernisation of frontline offices such as gram panchayats, primary health centres, raitha seva kendras, and police stations. The report noted that many of these offices currently lack basic infrastructure such as adequate hardware, Internet connectivity, and furniture. It has proposed streamlining the process of issuing ration cards through the integration of State-run platforms such as Bhoomi, Aadhar, Kutumba and Seva Sindhu. After submitting the report, Mr. Deshpande told reporters that the commission had previously made 5,039 recommendations in its earlier seven reports and 30% of them were implemented.
