There is no clarity as to how the program will be implemented? Who will visit the doorstep? What will be the charges? How safe would be your documents? What are the services to be provided? Will government employ additional staff?
As per the CM Sawant, the idea was to deliver government services of different kinds, including revenue, transport and social welfare schemes, at the citizen’s doorstep.
He had said that initiating the process of availing these services would be as easy as ordering a pizza at home.
With Sarkar tumchaya dari, we understand that you call a given number, a representative visits your home at a convenient time of your choosing, and the process of getting the service starts from there.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
One program we have been witnessing throughout the State is Chief MInister Dr Pramod Sawant’s “Sarkar Tumchya Dari” initiative. The program basically is for the delivery of government services to teh doorsteps of the people.
But despite dozens of such programs hosted by the CM himself, neither the Department of Information, the bureaucrats, or the BJP karyakartas have any clue what the program is all about.
There is no clarity as to how the program will be implemented? Who will visit the doorstep? What will be the charges? How safe would be your documents? What are the services to be provided? Will government employ additional staff?
As per the CM Sawant, the idea was to deliver government services of different kinds, including revenue, transport and social welfare schemes, at the citizen’s doorstep.
He had said that initiating the process of availing these services would be as easy as ordering a pizza at home.
With Sarkar tumchaya dari, we understand that you call a given number, a representative visits your home at a convenient time of your choosing, and the process of getting the service starts from there.
You don’t need to skip office or college to queue up at government offices for small changes in official documents.
The CM’s idea was to provide services beyond the government office counter through government representatives at citizens’ residences.
However, even after several programs, the government, teh chief minister, has been unable to provide any helpline number for citizens to call or what scheme are eligible for doorstep delivery.
Are the schemes included, like services pertaining to driving licences, availing of caste certificate, new water connection, old-age pension, widow pension, and updation of BPL ration (AAY) cardholders? Nobody has any idea? So one has to believe it is nothing more than an election stunt of Dr Sawant, who is busy copying schemes of other chief ministers across the country.
The CM has also not come clear on the concerns about the safety of documents and that they could get misplaced in the delivery process.
Also, one has to believe what revenue would it bring to the State exchequer?
The common service centres like Mahiti Ghar’s or kiosks have failed to impact the delivery of government services.
However, the doorstep delivery of services could mean a revolutionary change in the model of governance if the government is serious about it.
There is no denying that visiting government offices for services remains a process of hassle. Given an opportunity, no one would like to miss a working day – including me – just to get a water connection or minor change in driving licence.
However, there are many ifs and buts in the CM’s initiative as the people where the programs are held say it was just for election gimmick and nothing else as after the programs, the sarkar vanishes. One wonders whether, after the elections, even Sawant Sarkar would vanish.
