Uttarakhand CM Dhami Orders Strict Action Against Officials Delaying 1905 Helpline Complaints

Officials failing to resolve complaints on time via the CM Helpline 1905 must be held accountable. Those with a high number of pending complaints should be issued show cause notices, and strict action must be taken in cases of negligence.

All department heads must ensure that employees receive their full dues within a month of retirement. These directives were issued by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday during a virtual review of CM Helpline 1905 from New Delhi.

The Chief Minister stated that the government belongs to the people, and resolving public grievances promptly is its responsibility.

Expressing dissatisfaction with delays in addressing complaints in the Revenue, Forest, and Education departments, he instructed that explanations be sought from officials responsible for prolonged pendency.

He directed all District Magistrates to conduct regular monitoring of revenue-related cases and identify areas with a high number of complaints.

Additionally, he ordered a strategic plan to address these issues effectively. He further emphasised that issues should be resolved at the appropriate administrative level rather than being unnecessarily escalated.

Accountability must also be established for officials who fail to resolve matters at their respective levels.

The Chief Minister also directed that officers efficiently resolving complaints through the CM Helpline should be recognised and rewarded.

Noting the high number of complaints related to drinking water, he instructed that effective measures be taken to address water supply issues, especially in preparation for the upcoming summer.

He also directed all departments to launch a special campaign to resolve cases pending for over 180 days.

CM Directly Addresses Public Grievances on Helpline

The Chief Minister personally listened to complaints from five citizens via the CM Helpline and instructed officials for their immediate resolution.

Laxmi Devi from Uttarkashi reported that her late father, who worked in the Education Department, had his pension transferred to her mother.

She remains entirely dependent on her mother and had completed all formalities to be nominated for a family pension.

However, the matter has been pending at the Additional Director's office in Pauri. The Chief Minister instructed the Education Department to resolve her issue within three days.

Jagdamba Prasad Nautiyal from Rudraprayag stated that he had applied for medical bill reimbursement, but the Education Department had not fully processed his payment. Despite repeated notifications, no action was taken.

The Chief Minister directed the department to investigate the case immediately and issue a show cause notice to the responsible officer.

Bahadur Singh Bisht from Nainital retired as an Assistant Development Officer in the Horticulture Department on 31 December 2023 but has yet to receive 10% of his General Provident Fund (GPF).

The Chief Minister instructed the Horticulture and Finance Departments to ensure his pending GPF amount is disbursed immediately. He stressed that timely payment of rightful dues to employees is the duty of the concerned departments.

Jagdish Karki from Bageshwar secured a loan in 2019 under the Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana to establish a tent house. However, he has not yet received the subsidy from the Industries Department, and the bank continues to deduct loan instalments, causing financial strain.

The Chief Minister directed the District Magistrate of Bageshwar to ensure the subsidy is provided to Karki within a week.

Virat from Dehradun reported illegal mining and tree felling by land mafias, which is causing severe environmental damage. Despite repeated complaints, officials have taken no action, and the mafias are threatening him. The Chief Minister instructed the Forest Department to take immediate action and directed the SSP Dehradun to initiate legal proceedings against those issuing threats.

Senior Officials Present at the Meeting

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi, Additional Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan, Principal Secretary Shri Pradeep Pant, Principal Secretary Shri L. Fanai, Shri R. Meenakshi Sundaram, Director General of Police Shri Deepam Seth, and other senior officials. Additionally, Shri Vinay Rohila, Vice Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority, Principal Secretary Shri R.K. Sudhanshu, Shri R.C. Ajay Mishra, and all District Magistrates participated virtually.