Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday made an unannounced virtual visit to the monthly District SWAGAT Online Public Grievance Redressal Programme, joining proceedings in Mehsana, Kutch and Bhavnagar through a video wall from Gandhinagar and directly hearing grievances raised by citizens.
The surprise digital visit marked the first time the Chief Minister had virtually joined district-level SWAGAT proceedings without prior notice.During the interaction, he instructed district authorities to ensure that grievances received at the district and taluka levels are not merely closed on paper but resolved to the satisfaction of applicants.
Reviewing a complaint from Mehsana, where a flat owner alleged that a builder had failed to refund money, Patel directed the District Collector to recover the amount from the builder and ensure that it is returned to the applicant.In another case concerning permanent constructions on gauchar land in Palitana in Bhavnagar district, the Chief Minister instructed the District Collector to expedite the land survey and ensure that the applicant receives justice.
Patel told District Collectors that they should aim for complete resolution of grievances at the District and Taluka SWAGAT levels so that citizens do not have to approach the State SWAGAT programme for redressal.He directed that all pending grievances be resolved within 15 days to one month and asked officials to submit complete details of such cases, including applicants' contact numbers, to the Chief Minister's Office.
He also instructed officials that where a grievance cannot be resolved, applicants should be given a clear and truthful explanation rather than being subjected to prolonged inter-departmental correspondence.The Chief Minister further directed that in cases involving encroachments on gauchar land, the government should bear the cost of the land survey.
Patel also asked District Collectors to review complaints raised during District SWAGAT programmes over the past six months that had not received adequate attention from the concerned departments.He instructed them to resolve such cases in consultation with the applicants and submit a report to the Chief Minister's Office by July 31."District officials should remain present during the Taluka SWAGAT programme, held on the fourth Tuesday of every month, and actively participate in resolving grievances," he said.
According to the state government, the Chief Minister's unannounced digital visit enabled applicants attending the District SWAGAT programme to interact with him directly during the proceedings.Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary Dr Vikrant Pandey, Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, and Officers on Special Duty Dhiraj Parekh and Rakesh Vyas were present during the programme.