Will Services Act make officers more efficient?

Times of India: Nagpur: Sunday, 12 July 2015.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's maiden initiative to improve public services Maharashtra Guarantee of Public Services Act - 2015, popularly known as Right to Services will come into effect in the district on July 13. Collector Sachin Kurve and resident deputy collector Ravindra Kumbhare have released the list of 16 services to be covered under the act.

The act will be applicable to all departments and offices functioning under the district administration in the district from July 13. The state government had issued the notification for implementing the new act on April 28 and directed all government departments to the prepare list of services followed by implementation on or before July 27.

The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has prepared the list of 15 services to be covered under the act. The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has prepared a list and submitted with the government seeking its nod. The civic agency will also implement the services before July 27.

Taking the lead, the district administration has enlisted services that are largely related to the public. The services include domicile certificate, caste certificate, income certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, temporary citizenship certificate, senior citizen certificate, permission for cultural activities, affidavits, project-affected-person certificate etc.

The least time period given for a service is one day for affidavit. The maximum time period given is 30 days of project-affected-person certificate. Like provisions in the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the district administration has fixed responsibility on one official and also selected first and second appellate authorities.

As per the act, the departments will have to provide services to the applicants within the given time period. Even if the application has to be rejected, it will have to be done so within the prescribed period and the applicant informed accordingly. The applicant will a get unique application number in written or through electronic means to know the status of the application and fulfillment.

The applicant can file an appeal with the first appellate authority and then the second appellate authority in case he/she fails to get services in the given time period or is not satisfied with the services. The appellate authorities will also have to take decision in prescribed time period.

The responsible officials will have to face disciplinary action and penalty of 500 to 5,000 in case appellate authorities feel he/she violated the act.

Like provisions of state information commission in RTI Act, the government will establish Maharashtra State Right to Service Commission in each revenue region like Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pune etc. The commission will hear the appeals in case applicant not satisfied with the appellate authorities.

The applicants will also have to ensure accuracy of the application. There is a provision of action on the applicant in case they have provided wrong information or attached fake documents.

There are also some emoluments for officials. In case of services provided before stipulated time period, the officials will get cash incentives. They will also get awards.

Thanking Fadnavis, corporator Parinay Fuke said people will get proper services from now onwards. Earlier, officials were not responsible for the delay in providing services. "Citizens charter was in place but not effective as it lacked constitutional powers. Higher officials will come to know about the delay in services at even remote locations with the help of new act. Applicants can know status of applications sitting at home. It will also curb corruption," he said.

RTI activist TH Naidu said many things are similar in Right to Services Act with the RTI Act.

"Responsible officials do not provide information in stipulated time period citing one or other reason under RTI Act. We are forced to go for first and second appeal followed by state information commission in almost every application. Common man gets fed up and do not prefer to follow the system", he said.

"I fear that the condition of Right to Services Act will be similar. The major reason is lack of action and stringent provisions against erring officials. Besides, the departments do not have sufficient manpower and existing employees are piled with new responsibilities. They cannot provide proper services even if they wish to do so," he said.