DARPG delegation visits Bihar to study Redressal of Public Grievances
Published: Jan 06, 2025
By TIOLCorplaws News Service
NEW DELHI, JAN 06, 2025: A senior level DARPG, Government of India delegation headed by V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG and Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, Government of India, undertook a study tour to Bihar to understand the implementation of the Bihar Right to Public Grievances Redressal Act (Bihar RPGP Act) and Bihar Right to Public Services Act (Bihar RTS Act) on 3.1. 2025. The delegation comprised of Puneet Yadav, Additional Secretary, Sarita Chauhan Joint Secretary, Suvashish Das Director and Hari Kiran Bhatt Deputy Secretary.
The DARPG delegation called-on Honorable Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha during the visit. The discussion covered Effective Redressal of Public Grievances, the CPGRAMS portal, the Special Campaign for institutionalizing swachhata and reducing pendency and digital empowerment of pensioners. The Government of Bihar's best practices of Right to Public Grievances Act, the Right to Services Act were also discussed.
Delegation level official meetings were held with Amrit Lal Meena, Chief Secretary Bihar, B.Rajender Additional Chief Secretary Bihar and Dr. Pratima Secretary to Government and Additional Mission Director Bihar Prashasanik Sudhar Mission on the implementation of the Right to Public Grievances Act, the Right to Services Act, the Grievance Appellate Officer Procedure and Improved Records Management Practices. The DARPG delegation visited the SAMADHAN and JIGYASA call centres. A presentation focusing on the implementation and impact of Bihar Right to Public Grievances Redressal Act and Bihar Right to Public Services Act was made before the team. The delegation visited the State Public Grievance Receipt Centre and later on visited the Office of District Grievance Redressal Officer, Patna where they could observe the hearing process and redressal of grievances, in person.
The Right to Public Grievances Act 2015 of Bihar provides for quasi- judicial powers to Grievance Officers in Effective Redressal of Public Grievances. The GRO's are empowered to summon the Project Implementation Authorities/ Agencies and after due hearing issue a reasoned order. This structured implementation of grievance redressal represents an innovative National best practice.