Bengaluru: Karnataka's 40 departments received more than 25,000 grievances and requests during the inaugural Prajaseva Abhiyan meetings held across the state on Saturday, with officials calling the massive response an early test of the state’s newly established department. Of the total count, 23,524 were grievances and 2,258 were requests. The Prajaseva, a repurposed Sakaala launched during BJP govt more than a decade ago, seeks to take governance to the doorstep of people by accepting and resolving their grievances at gram panchayat, hobli, taluk and district levels.

District-wise meetings are held under the leadership of district ministers and local MLAs, with applications processed through Gram One and Karnataka One centres set up at the venues. Officials said most complaints centred on land and property disputes, handled largely by the revenue and urban development departments, reflecting a familiar pattern of civic grievances in the state. In the very first outreach, the revenue department topped the list with 9,013 cases, comprising 8,385 grievances and 628 requests, a statement from the chief minister’s office said. The housing department followed with 4,079 cases, while urban development recorded 3,919. Rural development and panchayat raj logged 3,494 cases, and food and civil supplies received 1,423. These five departments were the only ones to cross the 1,000 mark.

Twelve departments received between 112 and 826 complaints each. The department of women and child development, empowerment of persons with disabilities and senior citizens accounted for 826 cases, while the energy department recorded 489. At the lower end, five departments received in single digits. Medical education received eight grievances, tourism six, IT/BT five, parliamentary affairs and law two, and information and PR just one. All grievances and requests will go through a three-tier review on Wednesday. Taluk-level officials will take up review from 9am to 11am, followed by sub-divisions from 11am to 1pm and district-level reviews from 3pm to 5pm.

Taluk and hobli-level meetings will follow from next Saturday in the presence of local MLAs. Officials from all departments, including SPs and Zilla Panchayat CEOs, have been directed to attend. The initiative aims to streamline grievance resolution and improve public engagement with local governance. Officials emphasized the importance of addressing these complaints promptly to ensure effective implementation of the program across the state.

The Prajaseva Abhiyan, launched as part of the state government's efforts to enhance civic engagement, is designed to bring governance closer to the people. By addressing grievances at the grassroots level, the initiative seeks to foster transparency and accountability in public administration. The response to the first round of meetings has been described as a positive sign, indicating public trust in the program's objectives. However, officials acknowledged the need for continued efforts to ensure that all complaints are resolved efficiently and effectively.

The three-tier review process is expected to play a crucial role in the success of the Prajaseva Abhiyan. By involving taluk, sub-division, and district-level officials, the program aims to ensure that each complaint is thoroughly examined and addressed. This structured approach is intended to prevent delays and ensure that no grievance is overlooked. The involvement of local MLAs in subsequent meetings is also seen as a key step in maintaining transparency and ensuring that the voices of the people are heard at the highest levels of governance.

Overall, the Prajaseva Abhiyan represents a significant step towards improving public engagement and governance in Karnataka. The initial response to the program has been encouraging, with a large number of complaints received across various departments. As the program progresses, the focus will be on ensuring that all grievances are resolved efficiently and that the initiative continues to meet the needs of the people it serves.