Spandana Petitions Losing Value, Revenue-Police Reform Inevitable: RPC Chief Meda Srinivas Warns of Public Revolt

RAJAHMUNDRY – AP: Doruvu Paul Jagan Babu – Assistant Chief Editor: The much-publicised Spandana – Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) programme being held every Monday has become a futile exercise causing distress to victims, with officials closing petitions without any inquiry, resorting to forgery and encouraging a middleman mafia in government offices, Rashtriya Praja Congress (RPC) Founder-President Meda Srinivas has alleged. Addressing the party meeting at the RPC headquarters on Sunday, he warned that unless the PGRS is improved and the functioning of Revenue and Police departments is reformed, the government will face inevitable public anger.

‘Is there any value for Monday Spandana petitions?’

Srinivas questioned whether the Spandana PGRS department exists for victims or is being run for political mileage. He said victims are haunted by doubts whether their complaints are being examined or thrown into the dustbin.

Officials are issuing negligent replies like “the victim’s problem has been resolved” and “not eligible for resolution” without any inquiry. The programme, which is of no use to the public and victims, has become a million-dollar question as to for whom and for what purpose it is being run.

The Spandana programme, which is unable to deliver any justice, mocks the victim’s efforts and wastes both officials’ time and victims’ tears, he said.

Petitions closed without inquiry – forgery allegations against officials

Srinivas alleged that PGRS applications / complaints are being closed in violation of rules without any inquiry.

Even recommendations coming from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Minister Nara Lokesh to take action on complaints are being ignored by officials, who are sending false reports to the Chief Minister’s Office, he alleged.

In some profitable complaints, officials themselves are forging the victim’s signatures showing that the accused and the victim have compromised, and are submitting lies in writing to the coalition government, he alleged.

Despite many complaints about such abuse of power, only delay occurs and there is no relief. Even when victims ask for copies of their own statements taken during inquiry, they are told they cannot be given. Even when information is sought under the Right to Information Act, false and incomplete answers are being given, wasting the victim’s valuable time, he said.

Middleman mafia circles government offices – CCTV non-functional

Citizens who approach government offices for civic services have to go around for days in despair, Srinivas said.

Only when victims meet some middlemen appointed by corrupt officials and strike a deal does the victim’s file, complaint or representation move. Otherwise, the victim has to toil for months and years.

What is surprising is that in some land issues and police cases, those middlemen directly come to the victim’s address. In some cases, if victims refuse to pay the bribe demanded by middlemen, officials abuse power in favour of the illegal elements and harass victims, which shows the special corrupt service of corrupt officials, he alleged.

Though there are CC cameras in government offices, they are not functioning usefully. When CCTV footage is sought under RTI, negligent replies come that they cannot be given and that they have not been working for some time, he said.

Revenue, Police departments need reforms, warns RPC

Srinivas said today there are no government employees with social responsibility and awareness to bring good name to the government, stand as support to victims and protect laws. Their only aim is how to divert Spandana and RTI Acts and how to gain personal benefits.

The performance of Revenue and Police departments, in particular, offers no protection to people, civic security, properties and human rights. Victims are terrified to climb the steps of these two departments. In these two departments, land criminals and social criminals get more freedom, respect and priority than common people and victims, he alleged.

Many crimes and atrocities remain hidden as proof of the functioning of Police-Revenue departments. In democracy, people lack administrative convenience, social security and personal freedom. Asking for a legal right and buying justice has become the functioning of rulers, he said.

Let us achieve a better society and governance. Let us fight for it. If better methods are not implemented in the PGRS section and better reforms are not implemented in the Police-Revenue departments, public revolt is inevitable, Meda Srinivas warned.

The meeting was presided over by RPC Senior Secular Pendyala Kamaraju. RPC seculars D.V. Ramana Murthy, Dudde Trinadh, Simma Durgarao, Dudde Suresh, Vardhanapu Sarath Kumar, Doshi Nishanth, Gudla Sai Durga Prasad, Javvadi Mohan, Sunkara Venkata Bhaskara Rangarao, Challa Sambasivarao, Mattaparthi Tulasi, Kakara Prasad, Nagoori Annapurna, Masa Subhadra, Bodapati Nirmala, Adapa Devudu, Peyyala Sattibabu, Keshana Karthik, Challa Vamsi and others participated.