Shivakumar announces separate secretariat for public grievances

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced a separate secretariat to address public grievances and appointed officials to prepare departmental action plans within 15 days. He urged bureaucrats to work transparently, resist political pressure, and focus on accountable governance

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that his government would set up a separate secretariat to address public grievances. He also asked officials to prepare action plans for their respective departments within fifteen days. Further, he directed them not to succumb to pressure and to work with integrity, conscience, and a positive approach.

A day after assuming office, the CM held a meeting with top bureaucrats and police officials in the state. “A separate secretariat will be established to address public grievances, and a minister will be appointed to listen to people coming to Bengaluru from across the state with complaints, demands, or issues, including those staging protests or agitations. There is a need for such a separate secretariat,” Shivakumar told reporters after the meeting.

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He added, “Every day, two or three groups come here to protest. Someone has to meet them and understand their problems. It is important to determine whether their demands are legal or illegal. Officials must meet them, hear the facts, and understand their issues. Therefore, a decision has been made to establish a separate secretariat.”

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Director General of Police M A Saleem, and other senior officials were present.

Stating that the new government had begun its work from today, Shivakumar said that officials had been informed about the government’s priorities and direction. “We told them what is expected of them, and they, in turn, told us what they expect from us,” he said.

The CM said that his government would not tolerate influence based on caste or religion, and he asked officials not to yield to pressure. “Officials must respond transparently to the feelings and concerns of the people. They have been instructed to work with a positive approach,” he said.

Shivakumar also said that officials had been asked to prepare action plans for their respective departments within fifteen days.

“Everything must be accountable. There should be basic common sense, and every problem has a solution. There must be a positive attitude and approach. I conveyed this to the officials,” he added.
“I do not like reading or writing history; I prefer creating history. We must leave behind evidence of our work. Whenever we have had an opportunity, we have done so. This government will work in the same direction as well,” he said.

The CM said he had reminded officials that they are accountable and asked them to work according to their conscience. “I told officials not to bow to any pressure, whether from ministers, MLAs, or even my own office. They should work within the framework of the law and maintain a positive approach. Wherever there is a problem, they should find a solution within the system-that is my message,” he added.