The days when people had to flee from the dept. to the department routine work should end, says Karnataka Chief Minister
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar interacts with a physically challenged person after launching a Praja Seva initiative at Kudliga in Vijayanagara district on Saturday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday launched a new Praja Seva department aimed at taking administration to the doorsteps of people and providing time-bound redressal of their grievances without forcing them to visit government offices repeatedly.
Launching the initiative at Kudliga in Vijayanagara district, Mr. Shivakumar said the days when people had to run from one government office to another for their routine work should end. The administration should instead reach out to the citizens and solve their problems, he said.
“The administration should come right at the doorstep of the people,” he said. The initiative was launched simultaneously across the state, with respective district-in-charge ministers leading the programs in their respective districts.
After the launch of the campaign, Mr. Shivakumar interacted live with the district in-charge ministers and reviewed the launch programmes. In some places he also communicated directly with the people who brought their complaints.
Before starting the program in Kudliga, the Chief Minister received representations from the people who were seeking redressal of their problems.
First and third Saturday
Mr Shivakumar said that ‘Praja Seva’ would be introduced in all the 224 assembly constituencies. The cabinet decided that elected representatives and officials should be available to the people on the first and third Saturdays of every month.
Ministers would lead the program at the taluk and hobli levels, while MLAs would lead it at the gram panchayat level. If the MLA was not available, the officials should personally visit the panchayat headquarters, hold meetings, receive public grievances and take steps to resolve them, he ordered.
The Chief Minister said that mere acceptance of applications and issuance of certificates does not constitute success. “The real success of the program will be when the solution reaches the applicant and puts a smile on people’s faces,” he said.
The initiative would cover issues related to pensions, land disputes, government benefits, kata transfers, guarantee schemes, houses and family homes, among others.
Legal aid promised
Mr. Shivakumar also announced that the poor and disadvantaged people involved in disputes before tahsildar, deputy commissioner or deputy commissioner would be provided free legal aid through government lawyers. If the application is rejected, the applicant will be informed of the reasons, he said, adding that the government will stand by the applicant until the matter is fully resolved.
Pointing out the drought condition in the state, the Chief Minister said that the government will soon take a decision to declare more drought-affected taluks soon after receiving the second phase report as surveys are underway in more than 50 taluks.
The Chief Minister also said that plans would soon be launched to set up Bharat Jodo Yuva Sanghas in villages to promote cultural, sports and leadership talent among the youth and strengthen democratic values and to set up committees for the guarantee scheme in every panchayat.
Published – 05 Sep 2026 20:55 IST