Hyderabad: Prajavani WhatsApp Helpline Logs 25 Grievances in a Day

Quick Summary

• Hyderabad collectorate announced a dedicated WhatsApp number (7416687878) for receiving grievances from citizens, particularly individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and working professionals.
• Within a day of its launch, 25 grievances were formally registered via the service. Among these, seven were related to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) work and nine pertained to issues in other districts.
• The initiative is part of the weekly prajavani program designed to allow residents to report issues concerning housing,pensions,municipal services,electricity,and various other departments at government offices.
• Hyderabad Collector Hari Chandana Dasari emphasized that this service would save people’s time and travel expenses by enabling them to submit their concerns digitally using text or photos via whatsapp.
• Once received, grievances are uploaded onto a dedicated portal where an ID number is generated. An acknowledgment message is sent immediately to users’ phones. Later updates include an action taken report (ATR).
• Of over 1200 messages sent so far on the platform’s WhatsApp number within a day of launch, many reportedly included congratulatory notes for implementing this citizen-pleasant initiative.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The implementation of a WhatsApp-enabled grievance submission system by the Hyderabad collectorate signifies increased efforts towards digital governance aimed at enhancing accessibility for citizens. Such measures could be transformative for marginalized groups-such as persons with disabilities or elderly citizens-ensuring their voices are heard without logistical barriers like travel or physical effort. Additionally,leveraging mobile technology may streamline bureaucratic processes while improving openness thru acknowledgment IDs and subsequent follow-ups like ATRs.

This initiative could set a precedent across districts in India if it proves effective in reducing backlogs associated with conventional methods while fostering accountability among departments tasked with resolving complaints. However, maintaining operational efficiency once complaint volumes increase beyond initial numbers will likely serve as the true test for scalability of this system.

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