In a significant move aimed at bridging the gap between the administration and elected officials, Uttar Pradesh's Minister for Social Welfare, Asim Arun, has issued a clear directive to officers in his department. The minister has instructed them to proactively engage with public representatives, including MLAs and other elected members, to benefit from their grassroots experience and suggestions.
Directive to Foster Regular Interaction
The minister's communication emphasizes that public representatives are a crucial link between the government and the administration. To strengthen this link, Asim Arun has laid out specific protocols for officers. He has directed that as soon as an official assumes charge in the Social Welfare Department, that officer must immediately contact the concerned public representatives in their area and arrange a meeting at the earliest opportunity.
This step is seen as a direct response to long-standing complaints from many elected representatives who have often expressed frustration over government officers not paying heed to their issues, avoiding their calls, or failing to respond to problems highlighted by them.
Sharing Contact Details and Scheme Information
Going beyond just introductory meetings, the minister's instructions are quite detailed. Officials have been told to share their personal mobile numbers with the public representatives and also take the representatives' contact numbers to make mutual communication seamless and easier.
Furthermore, officers have been directed to actively inform the public representatives about various schemes and programs being implemented by the Social Welfare Department in their constituencies. They are also required to explain how the department's officers can cooperate in the effective operation and rollout of these welfare schemes, thereby ensuring better ground-level implementation.
Time-Bound Action and Utilising Experience
The letter from Minister Asim Arun underscores the importance of leveraging the knowledge and field experience of public representatives to make departmental services more public-oriented and efficient. A key instruction is that quick and time-bound action must be taken on any matter referred by a public representative.
Additionally, the representative who raised the issue must be kept informed about the action taken by the department. The minister also stated that if the presence or intervention of a public representative could help in resolving any pending matter, they should be informed about it without delay so their assistance can be sought.
This directive from the Uttar Pradesh minister is expected to institutionalize a more collaborative and responsive framework between the state's bureaucracy and its elected lawmakers, ultimately aiming to enhance governance and public service delivery.
