Sakala scheme, which ensures time-bound service to the people, is not reaching the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) beneficiaries, said Shalini Rajneesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR).
Shalini was speaking at the state-level consultation on ‘People’s Participation for Good Governance’ organised by CIVIC Bangalore in association with Sakala Mission, Centre for Advocacy and Research and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan on Monday.
According to Shalini, Sakala offers 10 services under Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. As many as 6.65 lakh applications have been received since the scheme was started. Only 15 of those applications are under MGNREGA. “This does not mean, there are less complaints related to MGNREGA, but Sakala is not reaching MGNREGA beneficiaries. That is because beneficiaries are not aware of the scheme and are not complaining,” she said.
Prior to this, speaking on Right to Hearing Act (Passed by Rajasthan government where public complaints are heard and disposed of in a time-bound manner), Nikhil Dey, a social activist from Rajasthan, said that every Friday a hearing will be done across Rajasthan. Officials from various department will attend the meeting in their concerned places or villages. Villagers get to meet all the officials under one roof and their problems will be heard.
“If there is a right to hearing implemented here, Sakala will be strengthened,” he said.
He urged Karnataka to organise ‘Sakala Samvad’ once a month where officials should participate. He also sought meetings at panchayat level in villages and ward level in cities.
Shalinisaid such a mechanism can help to solve complaints on the spot and the number of grievances related applications will come down.
Abhay Kumar, State General Secretary of Grameena Kooli Karmikara Sanghatane (GRAKOOS), said that many laws lack transparency and accountability.