Mangaluru Launches Online Portal to Speed Up Farmers' Weapon Licence Renewals
In a significant move to address long-standing grievances, the district administration of Dakshina Kannada has announced the launch of an online mechanism to streamline the renewal of weapons licences for farmers. This decision comes after farmers highlighted inordinate delays in the process, with some waiting for months to get their licences renewed.
Farmers Voice Concerns Over Procedural Delays
At a farmers' grievance meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV on Thursday, growers expressed frustration over the bureaucratic hurdles they face. "Farmers are made to wait for several months to get their weapon licences renewed," they noted, adding that licences of deceased farmers are often not transferred to their legal heirs in a timely manner. This has created significant difficulties for those relying on weapons for agricultural protection and other legitimate purposes.
DC Acknowledges Issues and Proposes Solution
Deputy Commissioner Darshan acknowledged the delays in the renewal process, stating that the matter had been discussed with police officials from Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru City. "We have a target to ensure that all applications are cleared within three months," he said. This includes applications for new licences, transfers from a father's name to a son's name, or in cases of sale. Darshan emphasized that pending applications should not remain unresolved for more than three months.
He highlighted that clearances from forest and revenue departments often take three to four months, prompting the decision to launch an online system. "Hence, we decided to launch an online system for the process," he explained, noting that officials from police, forest, and district administration will have access to the portal.
New Online System to Expedite Process
Under the new online mechanism, applications will be accepted or rejected within 45 days, with licences renewed or issued within three months. This system aims to eliminate the backlog and ensure faster processing. The DC also assured that all applications pending for over a year due to various reasons will be cleared soon, providing much-needed relief to affected farmers.
Other Farmer Concerns Addressed
During the meeting, farmers also inquired about proposals to set up Monkey and Peacock Parks in Sullia and Gundya. Forest officials responded that approval from the finance department is still awaited, indicating ongoing efforts to address broader agricultural and environmental issues in the region.
The meeting was attended by key officials, including Dakshina Kannada SP Arun K, DCP (law and order) Mithun HN, and ADC K Raju, underscoring the collaborative approach to resolving these matters.
