The State Government is resolved to fight against corrupt practices and is at the same time ensuring to provide services in a time bound manner. The approval to the Himachal Pradesh Public Services Guarantee Rules, 2011 recently notified reflects upon the State Government’s determination to serve common people. Himachal Pradesh Public Services Guarantee Act will bring in transparency, accountability and responsiveness in the administration. The common people won’t have to wait for the delivery of basic services as this act will ensure the various services within stipulated time. This Act will encompass various basic services of the Health, Forests, Panchayati Raj, Industries, IPH, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Social Justice and Empowerment, Home, Fire services, MPP & Power, Urban Development and Town Country Planning. These departments have been directed to notify the services expeditiously.
Every citizen can now demand that the notified public services be provided within the prescribed time limit. If the officers/officials fail to provide services in a time bound manner, they are liable to be penalized. In case the service is wrongfully denied or delayed, the applicant has recourse to remedial measures under the Act/Rules including monetary compensation including disciplinary action against the defaulter officers/officials.
Some of the services to be notified such as soil testing in Agriculture Department would have to carried out within 60 days, artificial insemination in animal husbandry within 2 hours, grant of TP to right holder by 15th April of the year by Gram Sabha, sanction of DFO by 15th May, TD to disaster sufferers by 1st September to 31st December of the year by DFO and within 60 days by CF in Forest Department, grant of disability certificate in health department within 15 days, failure of power supply (in drinking water and irrigation scheme) within a day and sanction of water connection within one month in IPH department; to provide new electricity connection within 30 days and to resolve consumer’s billing complaints within 24 hours in MPP & Power, registration of births and deaths and issuance of certificate, registration of marriages and issuance of certificate within 24 hours, issuance of copy of Panchayat record including Pariwar register within 5 days and issuance of BPL certificate and ration cards within 24 hours in Panchayati Raj; supply of copies of revenue records, reports for issue of various certificates, attestation of affidavits/power of Attorneys issuance of various certificates on the same day/next day, reports of damage due to natural calamity within 7 days in Revenue Department; Issuance of Identity card to senior citizen and persons with disabilities within 3 days in Social Justice and Empowerment Department; issuance of certificate that land is not in Planning/special area within 3 days and certificate of change of land use within 60 days in Town & Country Planning Department; registration of birth/ death/marriages within 2 days, preparation of ration card within 15 days, water supply/ sewerage connection within 60 days, issuance of BPL certificates within 7 days, No Objection Certificate for electricity connection within 30 days in Urban Development Department. With such concrete measures, the State Government was ensuring that administrative machinery is sensitive to the needs of the common man in delivering goods in a befitting manner.
