The Hindu          15.12.2011

Tirunelveli corporation takes the cyber route

Staff Reporter

Going hi-tech: Tirunelveli Mayor Vijila Sathyananth responding to a
caller at the newly inaugurated public service centre at Tirunelveli
Corporation on Wednesday. – Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Mayor Vijila Sathyananth on Wednesday formally
inaugurated the Public Service Centre, a fully computerised module
established in the first floor of the existing administrative building,
to receive grievances from the public, record and forward it to the
officials concerned for early and appropriate action.

The Public Service Centre will function on all days round-the-clock.
Through the toll-free number 1800 425 4656, the aggrieved residents can
register their complaints with the Public Service Centre, which will
immediately forward the complaint to the nodal and the official
concerned for immediate action even as a printer connected to the
computer will generate three copies of the complaint for sending the
hard copies also to the officials. The complaints will also be
registered in the zonal office concerned.

Moreover, a
Short Message Service regarding complaints on erratic drinking water
supply, accumulating garbage, blocks in underground drainage system,
anti-mosquito operations, streetlights, stray cattle, issuing of birth
and death certificates, building plan approvals, unclean public toilets,
payment of taxes payable to the corporation etc., will also land in the
mobile phones of these officials.

“Hence, the
officials can never say that they have not received any complaint,” said
the technocrats manning the Public Service Centre.

On the registration of the complaint, the complainant will receive a
reference number with which he can easily track it in future and know
the status of the grievance . Above all, the nature of action taken on
the complaint will be forwarded to him through his mobile phone. If the
complainant is not satisfied with the quality of the remedial measure,
the grievance will be kept pending for further action.

In an attempt to fine-tune this service, Ms. Vijila Sathyanand and
Commissioner Ajay Yadav will supervise its functioning directly and the
complainants can directly speak to the Mayor and the Commissioner on
contacting this service centre.

Another remarkable
feature of this system is that those who want to pay the tax arrears can
call this centre and express the same. Immediately, the bill collector
concerned will be sent to meet the caller with a hand-held gadget to
collect the money. Since, the bill collector can hitherto give only the
receipt with hand-held gadget for tax collected, the corporation has
upgraded this equipment with new software so that the official can also
issue the ‘demand note’, collect the tax and give receipt on the spot.