The West Bengal Government will introduce a Bill in the upcoming Budget Session of the State Assembly to ensure that public services are delivered to people on time, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here on Wednesday.
Fines will be imposed on government servants if it is found that services are not delivered on time, she told journalists after a Cabinet meeting.
The legislation, Paschim Banga Lok Parisheba Adhikar Bill, 2013 (West Bengal Public Services Rights Bill, 2013), is to ensure that people are spared harassment while seeking services from government offices, she said. “This Bill makes it mandatory to provide such services within a stipulated period. If the victim lodges a complaint, the employee concerned will be fined from Rs.250 to Rs.1,000,” Ms Banerjee said.
Basic services like driving licence, birth and death certificates, ration card and cards for those living below the poverty line, electricity connections and issuing of mark sheets will be included in the Bill, she said, adding that the list of services will be expanded from time to time.
“The West Bengal Right to Public Services Bill, 2013 is being introduced for the first time to strengthen and improve public service delivery mechanism and to reduce corruption,” Ms Banerjee posted on her Facebook page, adding that the initiative will benefit all citizens of the State.
She also said that necessary safeguards will be put in place to ensure that the government employees are not harassed unnecessarily.
A Commission will be set up where all the complaints from people not receiving government services on time will be put up, Ms Banerjee said, adding that it will look into the complaints and take action accordingly.