Separate department or commission to enforce PSGA: Omar

Jammu: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday said the government was mulling to create a separate department or a commission like the State Right to Information Commission to be headed by an independent authority to ensure the implementation of Pubic Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We are examining two proposals of creating a separate department for implementation of PSGA under the overall control of the Chief Minister or a Commission like that of State Right to Information Commission to be headed by an independent authority to enforce the provisions of PSGA in the State”, Abdullah said while addressing a gathering of Sarpanches and Panches at Parade Ground here today.
“Anna Hazare sat on hunger strike for similar legislation”, he said, highlighting the importance of this piece of legislation in curbing corruption at lower levels and making service delivery time bound.
The Chief Minister said that panchayats would be integrated with the planning process at Halqa level during the next financial year, adding that this mechanism could not be ruled out in the current financial year as the elections to these institutions were completed in mid year.
The Chief Minister said that the elections of Block Panchayat Councils are likely to be completed by March 2012 and those of District Panchayat Councils soon after the Urban Local Body elections are held.
Indicating allowances for sarpanches and panches, the Chief Minister said that a proposal in this regard has been prepared by the Rural Development Department and is presently under examination in the Finance Department.
Underlining the role of panchayats in disseminating the provisions of Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA), Omar Abdullah said that these basic democratic institutions will play key role in helping the people to get public service delivery in fixed time frame as envisaged in the Act.
Omar Abdullah said that the Act has turned the table so far as bribes are obtained by unscrupulous government employees for providing public services like issuance of building permission, driving licenses, state subject certificates, ration card, electric and water connections, etc to common people. “Now the Act has empowered the people to receive compensation from the erring officials for failing or showing any laxity or delay in providing these services within the specified time frame”, he said, asking the people to utilize the provisions of this Act to their best use.
“I have been told that the first fine under the Act has been imposed on a Tehsildar from Reasi for not providing Reserve Category Certificate to the applicant in fixed time limit. A portion of it will be paid as compensation to the affected applicant”, he said.
The Chief Minister said he has directed bringing some services of Home Department under the ambit of the Act which includes issuance of copy of FIR and character certificates. The issuance of MGNREGA card has also been asked to be made time bound under the PSGA. (KMW News)