Sakala, the government’s initiative to ensure time bound delivery of services to citizens, will be launched in the district from April 2.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena said the district administration has made all the preparations necessary for the implementation of Right to Services Act.

A total of 151 services under Urban Development, Transport, Food and Civil Supplies, revenue, Home, Education, Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayat raj, Commercial Taxes, Labour and Women and Child Development departments would be extended to citizens.

Each of the departments have been given computers, UPS and other equipment for setting up an office for citizens’ services. Officers at every level have been trained to handle the applications.

The applications of the citizens will be registered online and they will be provided with a registration number. The applicants will be informed about the progress of their application and actions taken through mobile SMSes and e-mails.

Penalty

The applications have to be processed and service has to be extended to citizens within a minimum period of seven days and a maximum of 45 days.

Officers who fail to do so will be fined Rs 20 per day, which will be paid to the applicant. The penalty imposed on the officers will be recorded in their service records and this will be taken into consideration during promotions.

Disciplinary action will be initiated against officers who pay the fine and still continue to fail in performing their duties, warned the Deputy Commissioner.

Inauguration

The services will be launched on Monday by District In-charge Minister Varthur Prakash at 11 am at the office of the deputy commissioner. Local legislators will launch the services at the tahsildar’s offices in the respective taluk centres.

A help desk will also be set up from Monday at the deputy commissioner’s office to guide people.

Citizens can also call the Bangalore call centre on 080-44554455 for more information.