(Pervez Bari) Eight states namely Bihar, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Delhi, Jammu-Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have replicated Madhya Pradesh Public Service Delivery Guarantee Act. Not only these states, but the Union Government is also contemplating to enact a similar Act.
It may be mentioned here that in all, 52 services of 16 government departments have been placed under the ambit of the Act implemented in the state since September 2010. The departments include Energy, Labour, Public Health Engineering, Revenue, Urban Administration & Development, General Administration, Social Justice, SC, ST Welfare, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection, Forests, Home, Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture Development, Woman & Child Development, Transport and Panchayats & Rural Development.
1.25 crore applications disposed of: Till July 2012, as many as 1.25 crore applications received under the Act have been disposed of. Of these, services were made available against 99 percent applications. Online facility for moving applications has also been made available since August 7, 2011. As many as 24 lakh applications were received online of which 99 percent were disposed of.
The Act provides that if notified services are not provided to an applicant within time-limit, he or she can make appeal against it at two levels. There is a provision of Rs.5,000/- fine on the officer delaying second appeal.
Block-level Public Service Centre: District Manager Public Service and office assistants have been posted at the district-level for reviewing applications. Now, Public Service Centres are being opened at development block headquarters and urban areas. People can move application through these centres. Services will also be made available within prescribed time-limit at these centres. No prescribed proforma will be required for application. Applicant will have to produce necessary documents only.
The Act has also been amended as per requirements of common people. Now, second and third appellate officers can sou motto requisition cases in which service has been denied, review the same and pass appropriate orders.
Honour by United Nations: The state has received the second prize in United Nations Public Service Award category of the year 2012 for implementing Madhya Pradesh Pubic Service Delivery Guarantee Act-1012. The award was received by Minister of State for Public Service Management Mr. Brijendra Pratap Singh on behalf of the State Government. (pervezbari@eth.net)