GANDHINAGAR: Presiding over the cabinet meeting in Gandhinagar on Wednesday, new Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel asked ministers and government officials to be present in their offices on Mondays and Tuesdays to meet people, as well as elected representatives coming with their grievances and public issues.
Patel’s predecessor Vijay Rupani had also issued similar instructions to his ministers and officials when he took over in 2016 and had also passed a GR (government resolution) in this regard.
Patel made it clear that ministers as well as officials of various departments must be available, except in unavoidable circumstances, in their offices on these two days so that people coming to Gandhinagar from far-flung areas as well as MLAs and MPs can easily meet them and make representation about local issues and their grievances. The new chief minister assumed office last week.
“The CM told ministers and officials not to arrange any meeting or events on Mondays and Tuesdays so that they can attend MPs, MLAs and people, several of whom come from far flung areas to make a representation. This pro-people decision by our CM will ensure that visitors don’t return without getting their work done,” said revenue minister and state government spokesperson Rajendra Trivedi.
In another decision, Patel asked government officials to attend visiting MLAs on a priority basis on Mondays and Tuesdays, Trivedi told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
In the past, it was noticed that officials used to ask visiting MLAs to wait outside their cabin instead of giving them priority, said Trivedi. “Now, MLAs will not wait outside. Officials will have to let them in and do the needful after understanding the issue. This is applicable for only Mondays and Tuesdays.
On remaining days, MLAs should take prior appointment with officials concerned. The CM has asked all officials to follow these instructions,” he said. Several MLAs, including those of the ruling BJP, had complained in the past that government officials do not listen to them.
