Public Services Guarantee Act to reduce corruption in lower levels: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Addullah

SRINAGAR: The Public Services Guarantee Act will help streamline delivery of public services and reduce corruption in lower levels of administration, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said.

Omar also said that he would himself monitor the functioning of departments identified under the Act for providing quick services to the people.

" PSGA is an important tool in streamlining delivery of public services and providing these within the fixed time frame. It will reduce the lower level corruption to a great extent," he said addressing a high-level meeting to review implementation of the Act here last evening.

The state government recently notified 45 services in six departments of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Power, CAPD, Revenue, Housing and Transport under the PSGA so that these services can be provided to people within the prescribed time frame.

The Act also provides for punishment in the form of fine to the erring official for not providing the service within the fixed time limit. A part of the fine shall be given to the complainant as compensation for delay in receiving the service.

Omar impressed upon the administration to ensure the implementation of PSGA in letter and spirit, making it clear that no laxity would be tolerated on this count.

"There is an urgent need of making general people aware of their rights of receiving public service within the prescribed time frame," he said.

The Chief Minister gave two weeks to the concerned departments for installing hoardings throughout the state in their offices giving details of the service and the time line the department is legally bound to provide to the people.

He also directed the Rural Development Department to provide all information to the Panchayats about the services notified under the Act and the time-frame fixed for its delivery.