Punjab has created record in the novel governance reform initiative with over 5.5 crore citizens availing services under Right to Service (RTS) Act since its inception.
“A total of 24,30,968 applicants have availed the notified services during August 2015 under RTS Act. Till now, more than 5.5 crore applicants have been provided notified services since its inception in 2011,” said the Punjab Government spokesperson. He said that only 13,751 applications are pending beyond timeline, and the concerned departments have been asked to clear all the pending applications immediately.
On the basis of reports received from districts, the Commission took suo motu notice in groups of cases where service was delayed beyond timelines without sufficient cause. With the intervention of the Commission, 1921 cases have been disposed of during July 2015. Apart from this, suo-moto action was initiated by the Commission in 23 individual cases received from the public, he added.
He said that in all, 69 officers or officials have been penalised by the Commission as well as second Appellate Authorities for not providing services within timeline notified by the State Govt under Punjab RTS Act, 2011. A that help desk with telephone no 0172-2790182 has been set-up in the office of Commission for providing information to general public regarding the services being rendered by the Commission, procedure for obtaining these services and other queries relating to the complaints or requests made to the Commission.