Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann heard the grievances of people and issued directions for their redressal in a first-of-its-kind public interaction programme, ‘Lok Milni’, which was launched here on Monday. Mann said this interactive programme is aimed at providing a single-window platform to the people for redressal of their complaints. But, the Punjab Congress called the programme “a selectively scripted show to create an illusion of governance”.
People from different parts of the state came with several complaints regarding encroachment of panchayat land, land dispute, pending of Shagun scheme among others. The people who had submitted their complaints and grievances with the AAP-led government in the last two months were called at the programme.
Mann, while launching ‘Lok Milni’ at Punjab Bhawan here, said, “This is a humble step of my government to make sure that we facilitate resolution of long-pending administrative issues concerning people.”
Mann said the top brass of his government would accompany him during this ‘Lok Milni’ to ensure that the matters flagged by people are immediately resolved on the spot, according to an official release. Mann said that this endeavour is aimed at ensuring that people do not have to run from pillar to post for getting their works done.
As many as 61 complainants listed their grievances before the chief minister during this ‘Lok Milni’. He directed the top officers of the various departments present on the occasion to ensure resolution of these complaints in a time-bound manner.
Mann said he would be personally monitoring the status of these complaints every week, adding that any sort of dereliction in this act will not be tolerated at any cost.
Redressing a complaint, Mann asked the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment to immediately release the arrears of the ‘Shagun scheme’ to the eligible beneficiaries.
On another complaint, the chief minister asked the Water Resources Department to ensure that drinking water was supplied to each and every beneficiary without any prejudice.
On the complaint of one Dr Seema Rani, whose husband passed away about two years ago due to Covid, he asked officers to ensure that she gets a job at the earliest under the government’s policy.
Mann said the state government is adopting a zero tolerance policy towards the drug menace and that this curse will be wiped out from the state. He said the result of the police recruitment test will be declared soon.
Mann also issued a slew of instructions to various other departments for immediate resolution of public grievances. Several people who heard about Mann’s public interaction programme through social media turned up to meet him for redressal of their grievances.
They claimed that they were not allowed to enter because their names were not in the list of those who were allowed inside. A few of them even registered their protest for not being allowed to enter the Punjab Bhawan. Later, their complaints and memorandums were accepted for further action.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of taking people from across the state “for a ride” in the name of ‘Lok Milni’. “It was a selectively scripted and screened show to create an illusion of governance not open to common people,” Warring alleged while responding to refusal of permission to some people who had gathered outside Punjab Bhawan here to list their grievances before Mann.
In a statement, Warring told Mann, “You have actually taken them for a ride.” He said when the government had pre-decided the list of people it was to attend and entertain, why it misled people who travelled from every nook and corner of the state to meet the chief minister only to be refused entry into the venue in this sultry heat.
Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu asked the Bhagwant Mann-led government why people should come for redressal of their issues instead of the government going to their doorsteps.
“Why should people travel for hours to get their issues addressed by one person, why not Govt at their doorsteps. Saves time & energy. E-governance is an excellent solution to reduce human interface & leakages…No one can whistle a symphony, it takes an orchestra to play it,” said Sidhu in a tweet.
