Adalat: Over 4,000 complaints settled

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 4,000 complaints registered with various government departments found a solution at a mass contact programme organised in the Thiruvananthapuram taluk on Wednesday. Of the 14,949 complaints registered after the announcement of the 100-day action plan of the UDF government, 4,151 were settled by the authorities on the day.  Most of the complaints were registered with the Revenue Department. They included grievances regarding land survey, building tax, monetary aid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, title deeds and legal heir certificate. Along with the Revenue Department, Civil Supplies Department, Department of Legal Metrology, Excise and Police Departments also lent an ear to the grievances of the public. The complaints regarding Transfer of Registry (‘pokkuvaravu’), Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, Chief Minister’s Calamity Relief Fund and National Family Benefit Scheme topped the list of the complaints that were registered. Most of the complainants were women, who were the beneficiaries of many schemes, including the National Family Benefit Scheme. As many as 380 complaints came up regarding the National Family Benefit Scheme, under which widows were to be provided financial assistance of ` 10,000. Most of the complaints were addressed to the Revenue Department. Thirty-one village officers were present at the venue to resolve the complaints. Some of the complaints regarding ‘pattayam’ were set aside for rapid disposal after further probe. Only 34 complaints were registered at the adalat venue. Among them, 31 were lodged with the Revenue Department.  Police Department, Social Welfare Department and Tourism Department received single complaints on the day.  District Collector P M Francis, who inaugurated the function, said initiatives like mass contact programmes convince the public that the government was prepared to address their issues. The programme in the city was the first in the district. Adalats will be held at Neyyattinkara, Nedumangad and Chirayinkeezhu taluks in the coming days. Wednesday’s programme was coordinated by Deputy Collector (Land Acquisitions) Padmakumari Amma.