Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal has expressed confidence that soon to begin sewa kendars in rural and urban areas of Punjab would act as shining beacons for whole nation in respect of providing easy access to services. He said that like initiatives taken by Punjab in other spheres these 2174 sewa kendars would provide government services under one roof through online mode and would be a role model worth emulating for other states.Presiding over a meeting here today regarding launching of sewa kendars, Deputy Chief Minister said that these sewa kendars would provide various citizen centric services to people in a corruption free and hassle free manner on the pattern of foreign countries. Issuing directions to B.P.L. International, company responsible for providing services at sewa kendars, A. Badal said no compromise should be made regarding educational qualifications and salary of staff to be deployed at these kendars. Reiterating commitment of Punjab Government to provide better access to services, he directed officers concerned to ensure that a service be provided to a person in 30 minutes.
Divulging more, S. Badal said that dress code would be uniform for the staff of these kendars and strict hygienic besides discipline would also be maintained. He cautioned that any negligence and compromise on maintenance, cleanliness and violation of specified conditions would entail hefty fine for company providing services. He also gave directions concerning adequate training to staff so that citizens should not face any difficulty in availing services.He further said that a board displaying services coming under purview of Right to Service Act would also be installed at sewa kendars so that people could get themselves abreast of this. S. Badal said that buildings of all sewa kendars are ready and designs of these kendars would also attract people. Listing out other achievements, he said that governance reforms implemented by Punjab are gaining wide appreciation at national level. He informed that Punjab has set a novel trend before the country by enforcing novel Right to Service Act and by doing away with affidavits. These initiatives of Punjab have resulted in state being conferred with ‘Best Governance Practice’ award by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Talking about other unique initiatives of State Government, he said that e-District project has been implemented throughout all districts after grand success of project in Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Divulging more about this project, he said that Punjab has become first state in country undertaking an initiative of this nature. He said that 42 services are being provided under this project.On this occasion, Chief secretary, Punjab, Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary Home, Mr. Jagpal Singh Sidhu, Principal Secretary Revenue, Mr. K.B.S. Sidhu, Financial Commissioner Taxation, Mr. D.P Reddy, Principal Secretary Transport, Mr. R. Venkatratnam, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. P.S. Aujla, Secretary Mr. Vikas Pratap, Secretary Mr. Raj Kamal Chaudhury, Special Principal Secretaries to Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Rahul Tewari, Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu and Mr. Ajay Mahajan, Secretary Rakesh Verma, Director Governance Reforms, Mr. H.S. Kandhola. C.E.O. Diwakar Agarwal of B.L.S. International company along with his team were also present.