CM renews warning to officials over harassment of citizens

MARGAO
Reinforcing the government’s commitment to responsive and citizen-centric governance, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has issued a stern warning against administrative delays and unnecessary harassment, saying that officials found troubling citizens on trivial grounds would not be spared and could even face suspension.
During the ‘Sarkar Tumchya Dari’ programme held at Davorlim in Navelim on Wednesday, Sawant emphasised the need for swift resolution of public grievances and greater accountability at the administrative level.
The initiative provided citizens with an opportunity to interact directly with the CM and bring their concerns and pending issues to his attention.
Expressing concern over routine issues reaching the Chief Minister’s office, Sawant said that nearly 80 per cent of the grievances raised during the programme were matters that should have been resolved at the level of the concerned officials.
He stressed that citizens should not have to approach the Chief Minister for minor issues or make repeated visits to government offices to get their work done. Directing officials to take responsibility for resolving pending matters, he said that public grievances must be addressed promptly at their respective levels.
The CM directed the concerned departments to resolve issues relating to houses, related difficulties and roads on priority. He also instructed officials to submit files concerning matters requiring urgent attention directly to him for necessary action.
While acknowledging the good work being done by most officials, he stressed the need for further improvement in administrative functioning and service delivery.