CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is just a call away. Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday launched the Integrated Public Grievance CM Helpline Management System -- opening a CM helpline centre and a toll-free helpline, 1100, for the public to reach out the government to air grievances.
Palaniswami announced the scheme on the floor of assembly in September last year. The plan is to implement the scheme at Rs 69.21 crore.
“In the first phase, a 100-seat helpline desk has been set up on the Rajiv Gandhi Salai in Sholinganallur in Chennai. Public shall air their grievances to the government between 7am and 10pm in the toll-free helpline, 1100,” an official release said.
Public shall also use other options, such as the web portal CMHelpline.tnega.org, e-mail cmhelpline@tn.gov.in, mobile app, CMHelpline Citizen, Twitter id, https://twitter.com/cmhelpline_tn, facebook account, http://www.facebook.com/CM-Helpline-TN.
This facilitates the petitioners to register the grievances on the same platform. “Action would be taken on the petitions received through phone, grievance redressal camps, web portal, social media, mobile app and e-mail, within a stipulated time,” the release added.
Aadhaar and PDS card numbers are insisted in this scheme. Skill development training will be extended to those seeking jobs, and the petitioners will be informed of the status of the petition via SMS.
The chief minister, the chief secretary, secretaries of all departments, heads of the departments and respective district collectors will hold review on action taken on the petitions within a stipulated period.
Currently, the government departments have separate grievance redressal mechanisms like centres and web portals. The district collectorates hold ‘grievance redressal’ days every week and month, besides exclusive meetings for farmers, fishermen and pensioners. Under the AMMA scheme, the revenue officials visit a local body to receive petitions like patta transfer, free house site pattas, certificates and pension, on an allotted day. The CM’s special cell and Amma call centre also function at the state level.
“There is a need for a special set up to coordinate all the grievance redressal forums and monitor how they are addressed,” the release said, justifying the launch of integrated programme.