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Online scheme for service delivery helps citizens in Karnataka

Updated: Mar 20, 2013 03:39:06pm
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Bangalore, March 20, (KNN) About 2 crore people in Karnataka have availed of services under the state government’s project Sakala under which delivery of 265 government services are guaranteed.

“Today, we are close to touching 2 crore citizens who have used Sakala as a means for getting information they want and six have also claimed compensation,” said a senior state government official in a statement.

The scheme under Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act, 2011, mandates guarantee of services to citizens within the stipulated time limit. Sakala offers 265 services under various departments.

The micro, small and medium enterprises also stand to benefit with the scheme as it brings in much needed transparency in dealing with government departments.
Some of the departments covered under the Sakala scheme include animal husbandry and fisheries, commerce and industries, food and civil supplies, forest, ecology, environment and transport department are important from the point of view of MSMEs.

While the scheme has proved helpful to the citizens, only six people have so far claimed compensation for delay in delivery of services.

Also in case of delay the scheme has provision of slapping fine on the designated official. This will allow MSMEs to fulfil their production target on time without any worry of escalating costs due to bureaucratic delays.

“In the event of any delay, the hammer of justice falls on the designated official, who has to cough up @ Rs 20 for every days delay up to Rs 500,” she said.

“Whenever the request for the service is made, the citizen receives an acknowledgement slip with a unique 15 digit number called the Guarantee of Services to Citizen (GSC) number. With the help of the GSC number, a citizen can monitor the status of his application on the web-site,” added Rajneesh.

The applicants are also informed about the status of their request through SMS.

Sakala programme in Karnataka has attracted the attention of other states and countries now. Apart from many states in the country, other nations such as Bangladesh and Afghanistan have shown interest in Karnataka model of guaranteeing services to citizens. (KNN)

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