Government mulls model BDO office

Chief Minister directs BDOs to build 2 lakh houses within two months

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 23: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal has asked the Block Development Officer (BDO)s to prepare a list of poor persons in consultations with the local MLAs and submit the list within 15 days to the Panchayat & Rural Development Department.

At a high level review meeting with Chief Executive Officers, Project Directors and Block Development Officers at Silpagram in Guwahati today, Chief Minister Sonowal asked the officials to transform the office of every BDO  as a model office. “Our Government wants to make every development block as a model office so that poor persons get proper treatment and need not have to face harassment in getting their work done,” he said.

Sonowal said that the BDOs have to ensure that no poor person encounters any sort of problem in course of filing of any complaint or grievances.  “You must ensure that a poor person has a hassle-free experience while filing any complaint. You have to dispose of his application within a day. Make sure that he does not have to come for the same work the next time,” he said.

The Chief Minister directed the BDOs to put up complaint box at their respective offices and to dispose of the complaints without any further delay. Sonowal instructed the officials to put up big hoardings in the panchayat and block development offices on the status of activities ‘to weed out corruption with screaming slogan: Giving bribe is a punishable offence, so also taking bribe is equally a punishable offence’ within a week. In this connection, Sonowal said he would seek a report from the Chief Secretary. Expressing concern over the delay in construction of two lakh house under Pradhan Mtri Grameen Awas Yoja across the State, Sonowal asked the BDOs to complete the task expeditiously within the next two month. The Chief Minister warned of stern action if the target is not met by the respective BDOs. He also asked the officials to enlist the approved proposals of gaon sabha in the register book. “It must be recorded in the register book that the schemes have been formulated in deference to the wishes of the people,” he added.

Underscoring the need for strengthening the monitoring mechanism pertaining to issuance of job card, Chief Minister Sonowal said, “A proper mechanism has to be in place for selection of job card beneficiaries by ensuring transparency and accountability and creating awareness in a big way.”Emphasising on toning of style of functioning, Sonowal asked the BDOs to come up with a factsheet on the exact number of bank accounts opened under Jan-Dhan Yoja and total number of beneficiaries under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Fasal Bima Yoja, Start-up, Stand-up, Mudra Yoja  et al within the next two months.

Sonowal asked the officials to go to the villages and doorsteps of the people to ‘build a close rapport with the people’. He announced that officials doing a good job will be awarded at a public function every year.

On the allegation levelled by local MLA that a private gym has been set up with funds from Government of India at Jagiroad, Chief Minister Sonowal asked the concerned BDO to inquire into it and to submit a report to him.