Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 28: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday directed that all government services must be available online by August 15, setting a firm deadline to strengthen the reach and efficiency of public service delivery.
Speaking at an event commemorating the "Decade of Implementation" of the Maharashtra Public Service Rights Act, 2015, and the inaugural "Service Rights Day," Fadnavis warned that departments failing to comply will face a penalty of ?1,000 per day for each service not made available digitally.
Fadnavis emphasized the need to make the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act more accessible and citizen-centric. He suggested integrating knowledge of this act into the school curriculum to ensure students are aware of the services guaranteed by the government from an early age.
Currently, over 1,000 services are listed under the Act, with 583 already available online. An additional 306 services are in the process of being digitized, while 125 services are online but not yet accessible through the common portal. The Chief Minister reiterated the urgency for full digitization, citing the constitutional vision of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to ensure fundamental rights and services for every citizen.
"Technological progress over the past decade has been tremendous. Our focus now is on delivering government services dynamically and efficiently," Fadnavis said. He noted that innovations like the face verification app have significantly reduced footfall at Mantralaya, enhancing convenience for citizens. He also emphasized that offering services through platforms like WhatsApp and making comprehensive information available on government websites would drastically cut complaints and improve people's quality of life.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed these sentiments, highlighting the duty of a democracy to serve its people sincerely and efficiently.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik shared that Maharashtra has entered into a partnership with Microsoft to bolster digital initiatives, positioning the state as a national leader in e-governance.
The event also saw the felicitation of notable officers: former Wardha Collector Rahul Kardile for the 'Sevadoot' project, Yavatmal Collector Pankaj Asia for launching the 'Feedback Room', and Kolhapur Collector Amol Yedge for piloting a new initiative to enhance service delivery.
Renowned personalities Padma Shri Shankar Mahadevan and actress Sonali Kulkarni were honoured as brand ambassadors for the Maharashtra Right to Public Services Act.
Chief Commissioner of the State Right to Service Commission, Manu Kumar Srivastava, provided a detailed report on the progress achieved in the past decade and announced that several new initiatives are in the pipeline to further raise public awareness about the Act.