Wahe Guruji Ka Khalsa, Wahe Guruji Ki Fateh
The issue of corruption has come to the fore through Shri Anna Hazare ji\'s movement which has shaken the foundations of the corrupt Congress lead UPA government. One of the key demands raised by Shri Anna Hazare was the Citizen Charter to ensure that the grievances of the citizens are addressed by the concerned officers in a timely and effective manner. A similar initiative has already been implemented in Punjab by our Shiromani Akali Dal - BJP Government in the form of the Punjab Right to Service Act, 2011. We have also initiated several other administrative and governance reforms which shall ensure better delivery of day to services to the people of Punjab. I would like to share with you all these steps undertaken by us to ensure that you the citizens of Punjab face no difficulties while dealing with various government departments.
THE RIGHT TO SERVICE ACT:
The Right to services Act has been implemented by the Punjab Government in July 2011. This Act empowers citizens to seek 67 services within a stipulated time and if these services are not provided in a timely manner then the erring officials will be held accountable and a penalty shall be imposed. The Services that have been included in this Act relate to Departments of police, revenue, transport, housing, local government, health, welfare of SC’s and BC’s social security etc. The Services Covered include certified copies of various include certified copies of various documents like record of land rights (Jamabndi) girdwari, mutation, demarcation of land, sanction of water supply & sewerage connections, certified copies of birth and death certificates, registration certificate of vehicles, fitness certificates for commercial vehicle and issue of driving licenses.
The services covered under this Act also include Police verifications for passport, issuing of various certificates such as those pertaining to income, caste and residence proof. The Act also covers registration of all types of documents and also sanction of all social security benefits for old aged, handicapped and widows.
Thus this Act will result in the empowerment of our people by ensuring that their interaction with the government is dignified and that their claims are to be considered as a matter of right. Also with the implementation of this Act corruption and harassment of our citizens shall reduce, the administration shall become more accountable and the people of Punjab shall enjoy hassle free delivery of services pertaining to various government departments.
POLICE REFORMS: TO RESTORE CITIZEN\'S DIGNITY, TO CHECK HARRASSMENT AND CORRUPTION
Punjab would be the first state in the country to implement community policing at such a large scale and in an institution zed manner. The community policing also called \'Saanjh\' shall act as a platform for community - police partnership to deliver police services. It shall function as forum for resolution of conflicts, domestic disputes, economic discords and social unrest and these reforms shall ensure that the police are held accountable for their misconduct.
To ensure that Police Reforms are implemented successfully we have setup 501 Saanjh Kendras in the district, subdivision and Thana levels. We have successfully built 115 new buildings for the Saanjh Kendras which have been inaugurated on the 17th of October 2011. These Kendras provide services which include delivery of copies of FIRs and untraced reports, no objection certificates for armed licences, permission for religious and political processions, verification of tenants, registration of servants etc. These centres also provide counselling services and will also have on call facility to resolve disputes relating to domestic violence, dowry and various other crimes against women. These Saanjh Kendras which are to be run in partnership with the representatives of the community shall have facility of lodging complaints against the working of the police personnel and shall ensure citizen friendly delivery of police services.
COMPUTERISATION OF LAND RECORDS :
Our SAD - BJP government had also taken the initiative to computerize the entire land record of the state to ensure that everyone can get easy access and accurate information pertaining to their land. This computerization involved a major exercise in data entry of crores for land records, their validation by revenue authorities and finally placing the records on the net. As a result of this the Jamabandi which has been made available online shall be given to its owner within 15 minutes of applying. It has also been made mandatory to transfer the property in case of an uncontested mutation within 45 days. Our government has also successfully established 157 Fard Kendras where this facility would be available. 137 of these Fard Kendras have already y been completed and the balance 20 shall be completed in the next 2 months. The SAD - BJP government has also initiated revolutionary steps to simplify and amend Archaic Revenue laws under which the level of appeals have been reduced and the power of revision has been restricted to one level, that of the commissioner. This will result in a shortened legal redressal system which shall ensure that revenue cases would be decided in a time bound manner and generations would not have to fight their revenue cases as is happening presently.
REFORMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT:
To ensure easy registration of vehicles we have authorized dealers of automobiles to act as registering authority on first sale. We have also empowered authorized dealers to issue RC (Registration Certificate) of vehicles and have authorized colleges to issue Learners Driving licenses. These steps shall ensure that owners of vehicles shall not face bureaucratic hassles in their day to day lives.
OTHER MAJOR REFORMS:
Our SAD-BJP government has also initiated some other major administrative reforms. In a major initiative the Government has decided to do away with filling of affidavits except in cases where it is mandatory by law. Affidavits are to be replaced by self declarations by the applicant. These changes will result in a substantial saving of time, money and will make it possible to provide most of the need based services immediately. We have also setup an industry portal for online filing of applications with an additional facility of a helpline. We have started the e-filing of VAT returns to prevent corruption and the leaking of public money and have also started e-tendering in all major departments. A system has been setup by our government though which people can make online payment of Electricity bills. We have al so simplified rules and processes relating to registration of births and deaths. This has been done by having ASHA workers as notifiers and ANM acting as local registrar for registration of births and deaths thus giving easy access of these facilities to our people.
CONCLUSION:
As you can see that the implementation of these comprehensive reforms shall impact and improve every aspect of your daily lives. These reforms along with the Right to Service Act shall bring a vast difference with the way our government deals with its citizens. It is our endeavour with these Reforms to truly have a government that is of the people, by the people and for the people. With your continued support and blessings we shall ensure that this dream shall become a reality soon.
Yours Faithfully
S. Sukhbir Singh Badal
President,
Shiromani Akali Dal
For more information visit : www.shiromaniakalidal.org.in
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COMPILED BY BABUSHAHI BUREAU,OCT,.27,2011,
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