Sudarshan Maharana
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 29: The state government’s online grievances redressal system launched in 2010 has taken a backseat in terms of performance. Nearly half of the grievances received through eAbhijoga portal are yet to be disposed of.
The e-Abhijoga system was launched for quick redressal of public grievances and instant information on status of files or benefits.
All the 41 state government departments are connected to e-Abhiyoga network. However, 48 per cent of petitions are pending disposal with these departments.
As per statistics, the government till the first week of August, 2016, has received 33,889 grievances of which it has managed to dispose of 17,486 petitions. The remaining 16,403 cases constitute 48 per cent of grievances which are pending disposal in various sections and departments.
The performance of several key departments in social sectors such as health and family welfare, higher education, school and mass education and social security in disposing of grievances has remained dismal.
Of the 3,888 grievances, the health department could clear 1810 cases constituting 46.55 per cent. The remaining 2078 petitions are pending.
The higher education department has disposed of 12 per cent of 1713 online grievances. The school and mass education department has cleared 20.86 per cent of its cases out of 2992 pleas.
The department of social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities has received 15 applications online but has disposed of only two.
Ironically, the law department tops the list of lethargic performers and has redressed less than one per cent of petitions. Of the 174 grievances received online the department has disposed of a single case, thanks to the administrative apathy.
Ninetyseven per cent of pleas received in the skill development and technical education department are yet to be addressed.
A large number of petitions received by commerce and transport (81%) department, coopartion (63%), home (50%), agrigulture (49%), water resources (65%), IT (71%), food supply and consumer welfare (83%) and labour and ESI (78%) has not been dealt with so far. Panchayati raj and PG&PA are the two departments that have managed to dispose of all cases until August first week.
A PG&PA department official said lack of manpower in every department has led to piling up of cases under e-Abhijoga mechanism.
However, a senior GA department official said a secretary-level meet has recently discussed the issue and the Chief Secretary has instructed all departments to hasten disposal of pending grievances.