Vijayanagar, 5 September

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday launched ‘Prajaseva Abhiyana’, a citizen-connect campaign aimed at taking government services and grievance redressal directly to people, beginning from Kudligi hobli in Vijayanagar district.

The initiative, through the newly created Prajaseva Department, will allow citizens to submit grievances locally and receive solutions either immediately or within a stipulated timeframe. Issues relating to pensions, Bhoomi Guarantee, khata, housing sites, homelessness and access to government schemes will be addressed.

Shivakumar said people should no longer have to travel to deputy commissioners’ offices, ministers’ offices or Vidhana Soudha to get their problems resolved. Officials will instead be required to visit communities, hear grievances and take action.

Around 50,000 applications have already been received, he said, assuring citizens that every application would be followed up. Where a problem cannot be resolved, the government will explain the reasons. Legal assistance will also be provided in cases requiring court intervention.

As part of the campaign, district ministers have been instructed to visit all taluks in their districts on the first and third Saturdays every month. In the second phase, the programme will reach hobli level, while MLAs will visit gram panchayats. If elected representatives cannot attend, officials will be required to meet residents.

Shivakumar said the programme would provide services without discrimination based on party, caste or religion, describing public service as its main objective.

He said 102 taluks had already been declared drought-hit and more than 50 additional taluks were expected to be included in the second list. The campaign carries the slogan, “The government has come to your doorstep.”