Jayaprakash Nrayan Applauds Right To Services Bill

Lok Satta Party national president Dr Jayaprakash Narayan, on Saturday, wholeheartedly welcomed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy?s announcement of the latter's intention to introduce a Public Services Delivery Bill in the Legislature.

In a media statement, Dr. JP, who represents Kukatpally in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, said that he had informed the Business Advisory Committee only a few days ago of his plan to introduce the Bill and sought the support of all parties to it.

It may be recalled that Dr. JP had observed a three-day Surajya fast in December 2012 seeking, among other things, enactment of a law to guarantee basic services to citizens as a matter of their right.

Dr. JP pointed out that citizens now have to put up with huge delays, harassment and corruption in getting basic public services from a host of government departments.
He went on to say that the citizens? basic entitlements, to name a few, include certificates of birth, death, income, caste, disability and marriage, water, electricity and sewage connections, building plan permissions, voter cards, ration cards and copies of land records.

He pointed out that revenue officials charged Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 per acre as "speed money" for issuing the rightful land-owners a record of rights.

Dr. JP suggested that the Andhra Pradesh law can be modeled after the Public Services Bill before Parliament now. At the request of the Parliament?s Standing Committee, the Lok Satta had drafted the Bill integrating the two Bills dealing with delivery of services in physical form and electronic services. (INN)