Dr. Pramod Sawant didn't mince words when he stepped into the Borimol Sports Complex in Quepem. Nearly 80% of the grievances raised by citizens during the 'Sarkar Tumchya Dari' session were routine matters, he noted. Issues that departmental officers should have cleared at their own desks. Yet, they sat in files, gathering dust.
The Chief Minister’s patience with bureaucratic inertia has clearly run out. He directed officials to resolve long-pending cases without delay and warned that anyone found troubling citizens over electricity and water connections on flimsy grounds would face strict action. Suspension, he said, is on the table. No more repeated visits to government offices for basic services.
The directive extends beyond utilities. Sawant ordered the expediting of matters concerning houses, forest-related issues, and roads. Files relating to urgent matters must be submitted to him promptly. He wants to cut out the middlemen and the delays.
The session was a direct line to the top, held under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. Citizens were given appointments on a first-come, first-served basis to present their concerns. Officials from various departments were present, forced to examine issues in real-time. Minster Subhash Phal Dessai and former Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar attended, but the focus remained on the CM’s ultimatum.
While the initiative aims to bring governance closer to the people, the real test lies in execution. Officials now face a deadline: clear the backlog or face the consequences. The next step is immediate implementation of these directives, with Sawant keeping a close eye on the files that land on his desk.