RTS ACT: 51 more citizen services to be added

Chandigarh, December 17, 2012: The Punjab Government is all set to expand the ambit of Right to Service Act by adding 51 more new citizen services into the RTS, which would increase the number of existing services to 120.

Disclosing this here today while presiding over a review meeting at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, S.C. Agarwal, Chairman Right to Service Act said that these new 51 services would be included to the existing services of RTS immediate after release of notification in this regard. He said that people of Punjab were already availing 69 citizen services under this act and with the inclusion of new lot of services the numbers would be increased to 120.

Reviewing the status of ongoing services, Agarwal said that Punjab Government would soon start the SMS services for the applicants through which they can track their applications to know the status of applications. He said that this move would expedite the process of providing services to the applicants. The Chairman also directed all RTS Nodal Officers and the concerned authorities at various districts to provide the services to the applicants in time bound manner.

The Chairman also emphasised on the need to develop joint software for all the districts to ensure the proper implementation of RTS Act in all districts. He also informed that the basic infrastructure including recruitment of staff, computers and other necessities would be provided soon besides creating awareness amongst the masses about RTS Act, it’s functioning and services covered under it.       

Agarwal said that Punjab has become the first state in the country to introduce Right To Service Act and the SAD-BJP Government was fully committed to implement this act in true spirit. He said that efforts were on to popularise this act at the ground level with a view to provide benefits to the masses at every level. He also informed that under RTS Act out of 51,89205 applications of various kinds 51,48002 has been sorted out, while the pendency of 43000 applications would be disposed off soon. He said that all ADCs (General) and IGs of Punjab Police would ensure the proper publicity of RTS Act.

Prominent amongst those present in the meeting were included Jaspal Mittal, Secretary Right to Service Commission, S.M. Sharma, I.S. Sidhu, Dalbir Singh Verka and H.S. Dhillon (all Commissioners Punjab Right to Service Commission).