GULBARGA: To create awareness on Karnataka Guarantee of Services (time-bound delivery of services) Act-2011, Sakala, and assist people in filling up forms, the state government proposes to set up innovative help desks at taluk level.
Secretary to Department of Personnel Administration and Reforms (DPAR) Shalini Rajanish, who is also the nodal officer for Sakala, told Express that these state-of-the-art help desks will be manned by volunteers from NGOs, retired government officials, school teachers, college students and housewives. The help desks will have internet access and assistants will be able to access the Sakala website and provide any information requested by the citizens.
Shalini said the government would identify interested volunteers through applications. Being computer literate is a must for the job. A workshop would be conducted to educate the volunteers about Sakala, their role and how to man the help desks. Then these identified personnel would be invited to manage these help desks in taluk offices. These help desks will be monitored by tahsildars.
Information will be imparted through telephonic, face-to-face and e-mail interactions. The budget for setting up these help desks for 2012-13 is estimated at Rs 10,000 for equipment, Rs 10,000 for staff remuneration and Rs 2000 for stationery.
Shalini said the government released a six-month advance of Rs 82,000 to deputy commissioners of respective centres.