Indian Citizens' / Netizens' Forum

[Indian]

http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Feb262008/national2008022654258.asp

MCC goes for m-governance

Mysore, Kumuda H, dhnsL:

For the first time in the country, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is all set to go the m-governance — mobile-governance — way.

A closed user group (UG) system has been specially designed by the civic body to attend to public grievances in a swifter manner. The system is to be launched soon. A brainchild of Commissioner P Manivannan, this state-of-the-art facility operates through an SMS integrated system.

Mysoreans can SMS their problems, which have been categorised into codes based on their kind and emergency, in a prescribed format. Problems relating to water, road damage, non-clearance of garbage, streetlights, illegal activities, stray animal menace and even official misconduct are some of the categorised varieties.

Identifying the complainant’s name, location and problem, a computer generated message is sent to the mobile phones of the field officials concerned, who are required to take action within a stipulated time.

Besides, a prescribed acknowledgement message with the attending officer’s name and contact number would be messaged back to the complainant, who, in turn, can check the status of their complaint. The system is equipped to detect unattended problems as well. They will be forwarded to the next official concerned. The erring official, meanwhile, will be taken to task.

Mr Manivannan told Deccan Herald that the system would certainly help the administration give its best to the citizens. The project is estimated to cost about Rs 10 lakh, he added.

Around 300 SIM cards have been purchased for the UG system and 200 of them have been activated and tested till now. But these cards won’t have outgoing call facility.

Corporation IT Department chief M Nanjundaswamy said a core team of troubleshooters would be working round the clock to check technical snags, if any.

Public can register their complaints on 94498 41200, 94498 41299 and 94498 41000 which have been networked to the server to automatically categorise the complaints. Officials are now being familiarised with it.

However, the MCC control room will continue to function as usual and cater to those who cannot make use of the new technique.

Star of Mysore February 27, 2008

http://www.starofmysore.com/main.asp?type=news&item=15912

Mysore City Corporation to become role model to the nation / country

Complaints through SMS

• Dream child of Mr. Manivannan

• Fast redressal of grievances

• Inept officers in peril

• Proactive Corporators

• Administration to tighten up

• Problems to be solved 100%

Mysore, Feb. 27 (KK)- Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is on its way to becoming a model in city administration in the country.

The Corporation is planning to implement "Mobile Administration" for the speedy addressing of public grievances. This means the public may send an SMS about any problems concerning the city and the officials at the other end will take steps immediately to address them. This is called the SMS Integrated Public Grievances Redressal system.

This is the outcome of two months discussions by Corporation Commissioner Mr. P. Manivannan with the officials of MCC control room.

This system, if implemented, will be the first of its kind in the nation.

SMS Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System enables the citizens to send SMS to the MCC control room about civic problems. The complaints will be passed on to the mobile of the officer concerned immediately by the computer in the control room. The redressal process begins and the complainee will receive a message after the problem was solved.

The system is backed by BSNL.

The details of 65 wards in the city, roads, sewages and every other feature are recorded in the MCC control room. The routine civic problems faced by the citizens are divided into three groups and coded as A, B and C. When the citizen sends complaint via SMS he or she needs to mention the code which will be transferred to the mobile of the official concerned.

A time limit has been stipulated for addressing every problem and if it was not solved the complaint will be forwarded to the mobile of the MCC Commissioner. The official concerned, if fails to present a valid explanation for failing to address the problem will face the music for dereliction of duty.

The citizens who send messages need to type the stipulated code for the particular problem, their name and complete address. The sender will receive an acknowledgment for his complaint and a reply after the problem was addressed.

Time limit

The time limit provided for addressing the problems coded "A" is 24 hours, seven days for code "B" problems and ten days for code "C" problems.

To speed up civic services MCC had purchased 300 SIM cards from numbers 94498-41000 to 94498-41299 and distributed them among the officials and all the Corporators. Every complaint sent to the control room will also be received by the Corporators of the area concerned. This way the Corporator will also be involved in assisting in addressing the problem.

Problems under code 'A' (Emergency)

AG 1 - Stray animals (dead or alive)
AG 2 - Garbage clearance
AG 3 - Adulterated food
AP 1 - Blocked road, bridge collapse
AP 2 - Street lights
AP 3 - Illegal activities.

Code 'B' (urgent)

BG 1 - Vacant site disputes
BG 2 - Maintenance of septic tanks
BG 3 - Licences (not renewals)
BG 4 - Hygiene in public toilets
BP 1 - Pot holes on roads/ bad roads
BP 2 - Vacating encroachment
BP 3 - Illegal construction
BP 4 - Delay in public works
BP 5 - Changing of street lights.
BP 1 - Illegal water connection
BW 2 - Illegal sewage connection
BW 3 - Slow paced work
BO 1 - Officials failing to provide documents on time
BO 2 - Rude behavior by MCC officials
BO 3 - Polluted water

Apart from these other problems fall under category 'C'.
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