Bill to cover all Central schemes, departments

Special Correspondent p p
Under the proposed law,, summon and question the y
Lokayukta p
Acts respectively.
everyy public
p authority will officer. The officer, if found Citizen’s charters were
NEW DELHI: The Citizens g
have to designate a guilty, will have to introduced in the country in
Charter Bill tabled in the Grievance Redress Officer compensate the citizen in 1997 and theyy were
Lok Sabha on Tuesdayy seeks (GRO),
( ), right
g from the block- addition to paying a fine. voluntary in nature. The
to cover all schemes and p to the Central
level up If a complainant is main elements of the
departments
p of the Union government. TheT GRO will dissatisfied with the charters were to be
ggovernment and p provide a receive and act on designated authority’s p
published containingg the
platform for the State
p grievances from the public decision, he can approach details of services and the
ggovernments to implement
p on services they are entitled public grievances redressal p
time period for the delivery
similar mechanisms for to under any law or commissions, which will be of such services. These
their schemes. government policy. The established at both the g
charters gradually y spread
p
The Bill makes it officer must ensure written Central and State levels, and from Central Ministries and
compulsory for every feedback to complainants right up to panchayats. Any p
departments to States and
Ministryy and department
p to about the action taken on citizen who is aggrieved by g
their organisations, , but a
act within 30 daysy on their complaint. the decision of the Central j
vast majority y of them
complaints
p from the public,
p The Bill provides that in or the State Public remained ineffective.
failingg which an appeal
pp the absence of such feedback Grievance Redressal However, the demand for
could be filed with a higher within 30 days of a Commission can appeal to citizen’s charters was given a
authority. This authorityy complaint, the complainant the Lokpal and the push by the anti-corruption
would have to o dispose
p of the can appeal to a designated Lokayukta to be constituted movement launched by
appeal within 30 days. authority, which could under the Lokpal and Anna Hazare.