Karnataka Govt Eyeing To Build Stronger Citizen Connect Through New Fast Track Redressal Department

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently re-emphasized Karnataka government’s firm commitment to improving public grievance redressal by highlighting the newly formed Praja Seva Department, with an aim of delivering faster and more effective solutions catering to the issues highlighted by common people.“We are forming a new department called the Praja Seva Department that will look into all public grievances.”, DK Shivakumar recently announced. The remarks aims to put focus on making administration more responsive and accountable to the people.The Praja Seva Department, which has been established to act as a dedicated nodal agency, will oversee integrated grievance management, ensure time-bound disposal of complaints, simplify

procedures, and enhance coordination across departments. According to sources, it will be headed by a dedicated minister, who will be advised by IAS officers, along with district ministers, who will be conducting regular review meetings involving local administration and common people.Aims to Addressing Long-Standing Citizen ConcernsSources explained that for years, the administration received regular complaints pertaining to delays in resolving everyday issues such as inadequate infrastructure, pension payments, land record updation, access to electricity connections, and clearances from civic authorities. However, the newly announced department is designed to bridge this gap by converting courtesy acknowledgements given by the authorities into what the government calls as ‘visible action’ by bringing systematic monitoring and accountability.The initiative builds upon Karnataka’s existing Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (iPGRS) while introducing stronger oversight mechanisms, including technology-enabled dashboards that will track complaints until final resolution.Known for his hands-on style of governance and deep understanding of public aspirations, Chief Minister Shivakumar has consistently championed people-centric reforms. By giving renewed emphasis to the Praja Seva Department, he has once again signalled his administration’s priority on efficient service delivery and responsive governance.Agenda to Institutionalise Public ServiceUnlike conventional grievance redressal mechanisms that often depend on individual leaders, the Praja Seva Department aims to create a permanent institutional framework. This structured approach is expected to reduce pendency, improve transparency, and bring greater efficiency to public service delivery.Government officials indicated that the department will also incorporate regular citizen feedback to fine-tune processes and ensure higher satisfaction levels. The move is being viewed positively as a proactive step that reflects the Chief Minister’s vision of a more accessible and result-oriented government.With this renewed focus, the DK Shivakumar-led government is reinforcing its image as one that prioritises practical governance solutions. However, the execution of this department will be able to give a clear picture on whether it has the potential to set a benchmark for other states in addressing public grievances effectively.Further guidelines and operational details regarding the department’s functioning are expected to be rolled out soon.