Praja Seva Andolana kicks off in Hunsur to streamline grievance redressal
Karnataka launches Praja Seva Department; first Andolana held in Hunsur with ministers to meet citizens twice monthly.
The Karnataka government's newly formed Praja Seva Department held its first district-level outreach meeting in Hunsur on Saturday, marking the official launch of an initiative designed to make administration more citizen-centric.
Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who also serves as the in-charge minister for Mysuru district, inaugurated the Praja Seva Andolana at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan. He stated that the department has been established across the state to ensure grievances are addressed and welfare schemes are delivered within fixed timelines.
The Minister outlined a structured schedule for public engagement: Ministers will hold meetings at taluk headquarters on the first and third Saturdays of each month, while MLAs will conduct similar sessions at hobli centres. Siddaramaiah cautioned that if citizens are forced to shuttle between offices without timely resolutions, public faith in the administrative system could erode.
Speaking at the event, Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda emphasised the initiative's potential to close the gap between departments and the public. He noted that prompt responses from grassroots officials—such as Panchayat Development Officers, village assistants, and electricity line staff—could resolve nearly 90 percent of common issues. He also urged that applications received during one meeting be cleared by the next, with officials required to explain any unresolved cases.
Pushpa Amarnath, Chairperson of the Karnataka Guarantee Schemes Authority, described the programme as a means of taking governance to people's doorsteps. She revealed that approximately ₹700 crore under the five guarantee schemes has been directly transferred to eligible beneficiaries in Hunsur taluk, adding that the state aims to set an example in dignified service delivery.
During the session, residents submitted petitions covering road repairs, electricity connections, boundary disputes, house construction approvals, and caste certificate issuance. District officials, including Zilla Panchayat CEO Yukesh Kumar, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Aishwarya, and DCF Seema, were present at the meeting.