Grievances settlement in a day

Nellore: The Grievances Day being organised by the police at the district headquarters on every Monday to address the grievances of the public is becoming very popular among general public in SPSR Nellore district.

Contrary to the notion that officials hardly pay any attention to the petitions, at least 50 per cent of the petitions are being disposed either on the spot or within few weeks if the issues are not civil in nature. The civil matters are being referred to district legal cell and it is also extending its cooperation to expedite the issues.

As many as 2,506 petitions have been received and 1,986 of them have been disposed in 2012. Majority of the balance 520 petitions are civil issues and they are being pursued by the District Legal Cell.

Similarly, 1,066 petitions have been received till date this year and 478 of them have been disposed. Credit goes to Nellore superintendent of police B.V. Ramana Kumar for systemising entire operation to bring accountability among police officials.

The progress of disposals being reviewed every week and it is part of review subjects during monthly crime meetings. There used to be 10 to 15 petitions per day when the grievances day was introduced in 2011 and the number rocketed to 100 every week now.

In a bid to make the women petitioners to expr-ess their problems without any reservations, DSPs Ms Indira (Kavali) and Ms Chowdeswari (Gudur) to deal with their petitions before they meet the SP.

The SP gives a patient hearing to each and every petitioner and directs the station house officers concerned to take necessary action through a VHF set installed at the venue to avoid any delay in rendering justice. He himself goes directly to the petitioner if he is ailing and not in a position to walk up to him.

The attention being paid to address the grievances unlike in the police stations leading scores of people, who are in trouble one way or other, to bee line to the district police office on Mondays. With petitioners and their kin occupying every inch of space on every Monday, the district police office presents a picture similar to temples during festivals, jam-packed.

Facilities such as chairs, tents, water cans, snacks to children and lady home guard services to aged, physically-challenged, sick and pregnant woman have been arranged at the venue.
All family issues and matrimonial matters are sorted out almost immediately through proper counselling sessions by a team consisting of psychiatrists, social workers and senior citizens.