Relief body to get online grievance redressal cell

Sumit Hakhoo

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 9

For the first time in 28 years, the Relief Organisation (Migrants) dealing with lakhs of families displaced due to separatist insurgency in Kashmir will get its online grievance redressal and complaint cell to keep a check on corrupt employees and bring transparency in its functioning.

The project is likely to be made functional by June-end benefiting thousands of displaced people who often have to visit the office regularly for simple issues.

Apart from the portal, the entire process of issuance of a permanent resident certificate, resident of backward area certificate and migration certificate will be available online without having to visit the office.

“We are digitising the entire system to provide services to migrants. It is aimed at bringing transparency and making employees accountable to the system,” said KK Sidha, Deputy Commissioner, Relief Organisation.

People often accuse that some employees have specified rates for issuing new ration cards to people. There have been allegations that some officials in the past have allotted housing quarters at Muthi, Jagti, Purkhoo and Nagrota camps after accepting bribes.

The state government following the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs had already switched over to make the payment of monthly relief to the Kashmiri migrants through direct benefit transfer which had exposed hundreds of fake ration card holders.

“When operational, the facility will end the hardships of people. It has been a long-pending demand of migrants,” said MLC GL Raina who had raised the issue several times in the Legislative Council.

Minister for Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Javed Mustafa Mir had also announced in the Legislative Assembly that the government was taking steps to curb corruption in the organisation by digitising records and services.