Over 9,700 public grievances have been reported by ex-servicemen deployed under a pilot project by the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC), with official data showing that more than 9,455 of the complaints have been resolved in the past year.
According to official figures, 9,759 complaints were received through the m-Seva mobile application over the past year. The highest number of complaints pertained to garbage vulnerable points, dirty roads, drains and other sanitation-related issues.
Pilot Project Implementation
Under the pilot initiative, implemented through the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO), retired defence personnel have been engaged to conduct field inspections and report on-ground civic issues across four districts: Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.
Former Navy Captain Charanbir Singh has been appointed as Deputy General Manager (DGM) of the Local Government Body and is overseeing the project. Working under his supervision are 28 retired Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), who have been deployed as field supervisors across the four districts. Jalandhar alone has four such supervisors.
Field Supervision and Reporting Mechanism
The field supervisors identify and report civic issues, including sanitation lapses, sewerage problems, garbage accumulation, the condition of public toilets and general hygiene. They use the m-Seva mobile application, developed by the PMIDC, to capture photographs of civic issues and upload them directly from the field.
“Once the image is uploaded, the official concerned is notified and must address the issue within a stipulated time,” Captain Charanbir Singh told The Tribune.
Impact and Resolution Rate
Of the 9,759 complaints reported, 9,455 have been resolved, reflecting a resolution rate of approximately 96.9%. The initiative has significantly improved responsiveness to civic problems in the four districts, with sanitation issues being the most commonly reported.
The success of the pilot project may lead to its expansion to other districts in Punjab, leveraging the discipline and experience of ex-servicemen to enhance urban governance.
