Kolkata, July 6 -- To expedite the redressal of civic grievances, the West Bengal Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department is launching 'Mukhomukhi', a weekly public outreach initiative that will allow residents to speak directly with Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Agnimitra Paul, who will issue immediate directions to officials on complaints received.
The programme seeks to provide a direct interface between citizens and the government while ensuring quicker resolution of civic issues. During the tenure of former Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, residents could register complaints via the "Talk to Mayor" programme, interacting directly with him. A similar mechanism was later introduced in Siliguri Municipal Corporation under former mayor Gautam Deb. The new initiative, however, will cover urban local bodies beyond Kolkata and Siliguri.
Under the proposed schedule, 'Mukhomukhi' will be held every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. One day will be dedicated to grievances from residents of the KMC, while Tuesdays and Thursdays will focus on complaints from other urban local bodies, including Asansol, Siliguri, Howrah, Bidhannagar, Durgapur, and Chandannagar, to name a few. Kolkata has been assigned a separate weekly slot because of the city's large geographical area and population.
The minister will participate virtually from the Urban Development Department headquarters in Salt Lake, along with senior officials. Opinions and suggestions related to cleanliness and better civic amenities will also be welcomed.
Every complaint received under the programme would be digitally registered immediately, following which the grievance redressal process would begin. Complainants will receive SMS acknowledgements, while officials will continue monitoring each case until it is fully resolved, with the aim of ensuring greater accountability, transparency and quicker delivery of civic services.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.