Centralized digital system at secretariat to receive petitions

Thiruvananthapuram: Soon, the chief minister will address grievances and petitions through a digital platform.
A web-based grievance redressal system devised by Centre For Development Of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), which is aimed at cutting down delays through real time transfer of petitions and complaints to concerned departments, will be monitored by CM Pinarayi Vijayan's office.The trial run of the system started on Tuesday.
As part of the initiative, the complex built by former chief minister Oommen Chandy for meeting the public inside the secretariat complex has undergone a complete makeover. Ressembling a new-gen office setup, the complex has six counters for submitting applications/petitions. Documents will be accepted and scanned at the counters, manned by professionals from the C-DIT, and acknowledgment of receipt along with reference number will be sent to petitioner's mobile number.
Also, two new websites - www.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in, www.cmo.kerala.gov.in - have been developed to process the applications. The sites also enable users to know the status of their petitions.
Petitioners can meet the CM during the visiting hours between 3 to 5pm. "Through the system, the CM can see details/status of petitions submitted on his computer. So when someone meets him in person, he can initiate necessary steps after checking the details at the click of a mouse" said sources.
According to sources in the general administration department, petitions would be sent to section officers of departments concerned and also to the chief minister. Petitions that should reach field offices would be sent online. "All major field offices including village offices will be provided necessary infrastructure including scanners and internet connectivity ," sources said.
The C-DIT has integrated all channels through which public petitions are submitted, including the Sutharya Keralam programme, to the centralized hub in the secretariat complex. "The new system is being devised after it was found that close to 9,000 petitions seeking financial aid were cleared by former chief minister, but no money has been disbursed yet due to administrative bottlenecks," sources said.