Most representations were on issues with Dharani portal, pension for the disabled and job notifications.
Published Dec 08, 2023 | 7:19 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 08, 2023 | 9:05 PM
The queue being monitored by the police.
Several people who thronged the ‘Praja Darbar’ — or the People’s Court — organised a day after A Revanth Reddy was sworn in as the chief minister, were left disappointed on Friday, 8 December.
A long queue had formed outside Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan, previously known as Pragathi Bhavan, on Greenlands Road.
People began arriving at the Praja Bhavan since day-break. What started as a trickle, turned into a flood tide after the arrival of the chief minister at about 10.20 a.m. The police had a tough time controlling the people. They had to be a little harsh to maintain order at the residence.
What added to the crowd growing bigger was that the movement of the queue was painfully slow.
This was because the staff at the entrance of the gate to the premises of the first building of Praja Bhavan were registering their complaints.
Though the barricades and fencing had been removed, the vehicle users could not have the advantage of the additional space as the crowd kept swelling by the hour.
However, many of them were disappointed after they could not have an audience with the chief minister, since Revanth Reddy left for the Secretariat an hour after the Darbar commenced.
In his absence, Minister Dansari Anasuya, better known as Seethakka, accepted the memoranda.
Earlier, people were subjected to a security check before allowing them into the venue. Revanth Reddy started accepting representations from them immediately on his arrival and spent an hour with the people. Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and senior officials were with him.
Later, he left for a review meeting with energy and TSRTC officials at the Secretariat. Seethakka was available at the venue, interacting with the people.
People from various districts, including Karimnagar, Nalgonda, and Medak, as well as city areas like Nampally, Neredmet, and Ameerpet, were present at the venue. Most complaints were regarding land disputes that arose out of the Dharani portal, disability pensions, challenges the government teachers have been facing, and information on job notifications.
Government officials at the help desks assisted the people in submitting complaints. However, confusion prevailed as the people were unaware of the timing. The event was held from 10 am to 1 pm, and as the time to conclude the event approached, chaotic scenes unfolded at the venue with people rushing forward with their complaints.
Those from far-off places were allowed in even after 1 pm, with the police controlling the crowd.
Elaborate arrangements were made for the conduct of the event. Special Chief Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office V Seshadri, DGP Ravi Gupta, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) MD Dana Kishore, GHMC Commissioner Ronald Rose, Hyderabad Collector Anudeep Durishetty, and Excise & Prohibition Department Director Md Musharraf Ali Faruqui coordinated the Darbar.
“Fifteen desks were opened for registering the grievances. A special mechanism has been put in place to register the petitions online and issue a unique Grievance Number to each petitioner. A printed acknowledgement was given to the applicant along with an SMS acknowledgement,” GHMC chief Rose told South First.
“Seating arrangements were made for 320 people. The first day of the Praja Darbar received an extremely good response as people came from not only Hyderabad but also from other districts. So, though the timing was from 10 am to 1 pm, we allowed those who arrived late to attend the last round,” he added.
Meanwhile, those who attended the Darbar sought a more organised affair, taking into consideration different sections of society, such as the elderly and disabled. Traffic and parking issues, too, should be addressed, they opined.
Bachala Naveen and his wife Yadamma came from the Kamareddy district. “Ours is a family of four. Our land has been encroached and it is not documented on the Dharani portal. Despite multiple attempts to reach the Mandal Revenue Officers and the former CM’s camp office, it has not been rectified. Today, we called the MRO once again but are still awaiting a reply. We are here to submit our representation, seeking assistance in reclaiming our land. We have been living in Hyderabad for our daughters’ education and meanwhile, our land has been occupied,” Naveen told South First.
P Karthik, a person with disabilities, faced significant challenges travelling to the venue. He wanted a government job, but could not meet the chief minister.
“I have been disabled since birth. My sister is married and our father has passed away. My mother and I are dependent on the Aasara pension. I couldn’t arrive on time,” he said, adding that he would reach early the next time, and requested another visitor to drop him off at the Secunderabad bus stop.
Krishnaveni, a secondary teacher, arrived at the Darbar, expecting the chief minister’s direct intervention to seek a solution to her problem. She wanted a transfer to the Rangareddy district from Seriguda in Mahabubnagar.
“Several juniors are altering the castes from OBC to SC to secure transfers. Extensive travel has taken a toll on me, leading to three miscarriages and three surgeries. As I am settled in Rangareddy, I am facing a problem in travelling and would like to seek his direct intervention,” the teacher said.
Another complainant, K Ramesh, had met the chief minister but was seen enquiring about when he would get a response.
