Damoh Collector’s Big Decision: No Need to Visit District Office for Small Problems

Damoh: The newly appointed District Collector Pratap Narayan Yadav has emphasized making the administrative system more effective, accountable, and citizen-centric. During the public grievance hearing (Jan Sunwai), he clearly instructed that people should not have to visit the district headquarters for minor issues.

He stated that only those cases should be brought to the district level which cannot be resolved at the local level—such as Gram Panchayat, Tehsil, or Subdivision. This approach will not only reduce unnecessary crowding at the district office but also make governance more efficient.

The Collector stressed that a sensitive and responsive administration is key to gaining public trust. If people do not believe that their problems will be solved, they will hesitate to approach the administration.

During the hearing, it was observed that many issues reaching the district office could have been resolved at the local level itself. Expressing concern over this, the Collector instructed officials to ensure accountability at every level and resolve complaints within a fixed time frame.

He also directed the revenue department and urban local bodies to organize camps in their respective areas to address issues on the spot. These camps will include patwaris, पंचायत officials, and other departmental staff to ensure quick and effective resolution of most complaints.

The Collector further informed that a TL (Time Limit) meeting will soon be conducted to provide necessary guidelines to officials. He also appealed to citizens to first present their grievances at the appropriate local level. Only if the issue remains unresolved should they approach the district office.

Giving examples, he mentioned that problems like encroachment on drains and sanitation issues can easily be resolved locally. It is not appropriate to make citizens travel to the district headquarters for such minor concerns.

The primary objective of the administration is to ensure quick and fair resolution of public grievances so that citizens remain satisfied and maintain trust in the system. Considering the summer heat, arrangements for drinking water and buttermilk were also made for visitors during the public hearing at the Collector’s office.