Sakala may spell end of pillar-to-post Raj

The writer has posted comments on this articleSunitha Rao R, TNN | Apr 3, 2012, 05.05AM IST

BANGALORE: The end of pillar-to-post runs in government offices may be round the corner as
Sakala, the scheme that promises to deliver services within a stipulated time frame, was launched
across the state on Monday.
There's room for hope as beneficiaries of the pilot phase of Sakala, which was implemented in
Jayanagar and three taluks elsewhere in the state during the last month, have realized.
Successful restaurateur Sadanand Maiya is one such beneficiary. "My advocate applied for the
trade licence under Sakala. We could get the licence without hassle," Maiya told TOI.
Jayanagar legislator BN Vijayakumar said along with Maiya, five other traders too had applied
for trade licences on March 1, the day the Sakala pilot scheme was launched. Their licences were
issued the same evening.
"The Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens System has brought discipline among
government servants. An application with a Sakala tag means that the service has to be rendered
within the stipulated period. Timely clearing of files implies that officials don't have to contend
with backlog of files," Vijaykumar explained.
Launching the scheme in the city, chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda reeled out statistics to
illustrate the success of the pilot project. He said of the 1,34,769 applications received for
different services under Sakala, 1,15,320 cases were disposed of in time, pointing out that the
success rate was 99.3%.
"Sakala ensures that 151 services of the government will be delivered to citizens within the
specified time, failing which Rs 20 per day will be deducted from the salaries of the officials
concerned. The scheme will enhance transparency and curtail corruption at least by 75%," the
chief minister hoped.
"This is our dream come true. From now on, no official can give lame excuse and make the
public run from pillar to post to deliver services. Our 99.3% success rate makes it look like we
have gone one up on Dhoni," said law and urban development minister S Suresh Kumar.
Hopes soar

Venkatappa, a 60-year-old farmer from Nelamangala,

was the first person to file his application under
Sakala on Monday.

The farmer applied for change of land use from

agriculture to non-agriculture purpose for his sister's
land. Venkatappa said he was hopeful of getting his
land application approved within the stipulated 120
days.
Commercial dept hits high
As per data with the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens System, the commercial taxes
department received the highest number of applications in the pilot scheme. Of the 1,09,163
applications received by the department, 98,351 were dispatched, with the pendency of files put
at 1.5%.
What is Sakala?
Sakala means in time. It is a scheme implemented under the Karnataka Guarantee of Services to
Citizens System Act 2011, to provide guarantee of services to citizens within stipulated time as
mentioned in the schedule. In case of any delay or default in delivering the service, the applicant
can seek compensation at the rate of Rs 20 per day of delay subject to a maximum of Rs 500
from the officer concerned.
The service also updates you on the progress of applicant's service request through an SMS to
the mobile number specified in the application.
Currently, 151 services like issuance of birth, death certificates, khata, land conversion certificate
and ration card are covered.