Citizens can complain by SMS - Karnataka government promises quick response

By Harsha Pramod @ Tuesday, July 08, 2008 8:44 AM

Section - Telecoms/Mobile

The Karnataka government has promised to address citizens’ civic complaints within 24 hours, if they send them by SMS.

The government plans to start a system encouraging the general public to text their complaints, reported the Deccan Herald. Complaints related to civic infrastructure include problems with street lights, garbage collection, roads and storm water drains. The SMS helpline system was initially developed in Mysore, and will be extended to other parts of the state.

Citizens will be given a centralised mobile number as a helpline. Messages will be forwarded to respective departments, which will take immediate action, said an official. It remains to be seen how the government will ensure that complaints are taken care of in the timescale promised.

The Chennai Corporation launched a helpline in November last year, but failed to publicise it, meaning many people were unaware of the facility. X