Under the “Viksit Bharat Gram Rozgar and Livelihood Scheme (VBG-RG)” law, which the Central Government introduced as a replacement for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Central Government on Monday notified a new grievance redressal rule requiring public complaints to be resolved within 15 days.
In this regard, a press release issued by the Union Ministry of Rural Development said: According to this notified rule, state governments must establish a three-tier grievance redressal system for the public at the village panchayat level, block level, and district level.
A dedicated grievance redressal officer must be appointed at every level to receive complaints, register them, conduct inquiries, and provide redress.
The public may submit their grievances directly to these officers, by speed post, through the authorized digital platform, through helplines, or through other procedures notified by the State Governments.
Any complaint so submitted shall not be rejected on the ground that it was not submitted in the prescribed format or because of the language, the manner in which it was submitted, or any procedural defect.
All complaints received must be uploaded to the dedicated digital complaint registration portal on the same day or within the next working day.
For complaints received in this manner, the inquiry must be completed within the next 7 days, and a resolution must be provided within 15 days.
The inquiry officer may obtain from the relevant government officials any documents, records, reports, or digital data required for the inquiry into this complaint. Further, if necessary, the complainant may be given an opportunity to present their explanation in person or through electronic means.
If complaints are not resolved within 15 days, that complaint must be submitted to the next higher-level officer designated by the government. Such complaints sent to the higher-level officer must continue to be monitored electronically until they are resolved.
At the district level, the District Project Coordinator should oversee this grievance redressal process and ensure that complaints are resolved through the proper procedure.
It was stated that this rule also provides for filing an appeal against the order issued under this grievance redressal procedure.
Under the ‘Viksit Bharat Gram Rozgar Guarantee and Livelihood (VBG Ram Ji) Act’ brought in by the Central Government as a replacement for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the 100 days of work is being increased to 125 days.