The India Post,Chandigarh, 1st December, 2008 : The Public Hearing Session presided over by Punjab Governor and Administrator, Union Territory, Chanigarh, Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, PVSM VSM, changed the perception of a NRI family, which made them comment that they have encountered a unique experience of responsiveness and the positive & sympathetic response. This Grievances Redressal Forum gave them a sense of satisfaction & faith in the Administrative System.
Accompanied by Mrs. Jean Rodrigues, the Administrator listened to the grievances of the people for about two-hours and solved many of the problems of the people on the spot. He also ordered the officers to respond by activiating redressal grievances systems, in their respective organisations.
Responding to the representation of the NRI family, General Rodrigues shared his concern over the security of NRI properties and asked the Finance Secretary to evolve a suitable mechanism supported with legal and administrative measures in Union Territory, Chandigarh, for the protection of their properties and to safeguard their legitimate interests.
This process brought a major relief to the common people especially physically challenged, destitute women and old people from disadvantaged sections of society who met the Administrator, presented their problems and found instant solutions.
Giving a special emphasis to develop programmes for the empowerment of handicapped and other below poverity line people living in distress, General Rodrigues asked the Finance Secretary and Deputy Commisioner to formulate a policy for giving them low cost houses and small booths, for setting up a small scale business, to earn their livelihood. He emphasised that rehabilitation of needy people with minimum support structure of civic amenities should be a priority, in our programmes.
General Rodrigues also asked the Finance Secretary to ensure implementation of building bye-laws, which has given a major relief to different strata of society. He emphasised that a policy of ‘One set of rules for Everybody’ should be adopted without any discrimination, favour or nepotism. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner for speedily expediting the issues relating to complaints of different cooperative societies.
The senior officers who attended the Public Hearing Session included Mr. M.P. Singh, Secretary to Governor, Mr. Ram Niwas, Home Secretary, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary, Mr. Mohanjit Singh, Chairman Chandigarh Housing Board, Mr. Roshan Sankaria, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Mr. S.K. Jain, Inspector General of Police, Mr. R.K. Rao, Deputy Commissioner and heads of Engineering Department of the Administration and Municipal Corporation.