Andhra Pradesh Govt Responds to The Wire Report, Claims Public Grievances Being Addressed Effectively
The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a response to an investigative report by The Wire that questioned the efficacy of the state's Public Grievance Redressal System. Government officials maintain that they are diligently addressing public complaints, citing statistics and outlining their multi-tiered response mechanism.
The report, published on April 7, had highlighted instances wherein complainants alleged that their issues were not resolved, despite government claims of high-resolution rates. In response, the Andhra Pradesh government asserted that their system is functioning efficiently, with a significant majority of complaints being addressed within stipulated timelines.
According to the government's response, a total of 8,26,812 complaints have been received since June 15, 2024, of which 7,91,307 have been resolved. However, 69,505 complaints remain pending. Officials clarified that while reports submitted to the government indicate progress, ground realities may differ, acknowledging the 78% dissatisfaction expressed during Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's IVRS survey, as pointed out by The Wire.
The government explained their three-tiered response system, where complaints are initially forwarded to the relevant department head, followed by district-level follow-ups, and finally, a review of pending cases.
They emphasised that the "Public Grievance Redressal System," a restructured version of the previous "Spandana" program, prioritises timely resolution of public issues.
Officials highlighted the various avenues for citizens to lodge complaints, including district collectorates, village meetings, online platforms, and through MLAs, MLCs, and ministers. They also addressed The Wire's report that 1,73,020 complaints were shown as completed without audit, and addressed the software glitch that caused some complainants to receive premature closure notifications.
'We are committed to resolving every complaint systematically'
Grievance cell chief Chinnarao assured that they are actively contacting affected individuals and re-attaching their complaints to district collectors.
"We are committed to resolving every complaint systematically, any technical glitches or discrepancies are being addressed with utmost priority,” said Chinnarao.
The Wire's" report also included testimonies from complainants who experienced unresolved issues, highlighting a disconnect between official statistics and ground realities. The case of a complainant in Anantapur district, whose complaint was closed without resolution, was cited as an example.
Furthermore, the involvement of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Janasena, and BJP party offices in grievance redressal was noted, indicating a broader effort to address public concerns. Despite the government's claims of prompt action, concerns remain regarding delays and inefficiencies in certain departments.
The government has pledged to take further measures to ensure that officials prioritise public grievances, aiming to bridge the gap between official data and citizen experiences. The effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored by both the public and media.
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