LOK SURAJ- THE GOOD GOVERNANCE

The campaign with the sole intention to bring administration and citizen closer, named as “Lok Suraj Abhiyaan” was launched in the year 2005. Earlier it was “Gram Suraj” which was a village-centric campaign later it evolved into urban pockets as “Nagar Suraj”. It has now covered rural and urban areas. Hence it developed and took shape of “Lok Suraj”.

Talking about the impact of this campaign started by Chattisgarh government, it has played a vital role in spiraling public’s undeterred faith in government. As the name states, “Lok Suraj”, the good governance for the people, Chattisgarh chief minister Dr. Raman Singh took initiative in developing remote areas of Chattisgarh by getting closer to the villagers and other residents. The government wanted every citizen to make use of this campaign; hence it organizes this campaign mostly during summers. When kids have their vacations, farmers are home and women slightly relieved from the load of work. This gave a platform to the people where they could share their problems of life. Farmers talk about issues related to irrigation, crops, land development and allotment etc whereas children discuss their mid-day meal issues, stationary availability, facilities in schools and so on. Women get a stage to open up about the development of the society by providing proper electricity, water, medical facilities or construction of public toilets etc.

Redressal camps – “Samadhan Shivir”

One of the best measures taken by Dr. Singh and the government is “Samadhan Shivir” where the public can directly get solutions to their needs or problems. Innumerable applications are received during this camp related to public issues. These applications are divided according to area and departments. This finally deals with identifying and correction of administrative irregularities and loopholes if any.  

Roof for uncovered heads and gas for those empty stomachs

Women from many areas came up with the request that they dream of a roof on their heads which they could not get till now. And some requested for a safer kitchen. Wooden stoves would result in watery and itchy eyes and danger of catching fire too.

Under “Pradhan Mantri housing and ujjawala” scheme, those women were asked to fill some forms and formalities. Within a week, they got new gas connections which helped them cook safely and easily better than before and within a month’s time, they got their homes built. What else they could wish for?

Ration card for needy

Poor and needy people had to take loans to fulfill their daily needs. As earning bread for the family was sometimes not their cup of tea, they had to borrow money or take ration on credit, which resulted in huge loans on their heads later. This issue came into the limelight when the government stepped into some of the villages during surprise visits or “Samadhan Shivir”. Dr. Raman Singh’s government then promised ration cards to all the needy people and hence that problem was also solved soon.

Women and child welfare schemes

Our C.M. Dr. Raman Singh started his first day of this campaign, 3rdphase by giving polio drops to the kids. Also, there is a ‘pregnancy aid scheme’ under which women from the rural and urban areas get some amount from the hospitals for their medicines and baby’s other needs. Women who run their own house by their earnings also got a respectful life now. Women who had to go door to door for earning bread by washing clothes and utensils, on requesting a shop, have received a shop where they can now wash and iron other’s clothes and earn bread with respect.

Scholastic and employment programs

Schooling has also been made easy and affordable. Free books made the students study much enthusiastically. Schemes like “Yuva Kranti Yojana”, “Saraswati Cycle Yojana”, “Pradhanmantri Jandhan Yojana”. “Kshetra vikas yojana” have helped Chattisgarh’s youth and the unemployed public. Bank accounts were created under 0 balance, several cycles were distributed to school-going girls, employment were given to many unemployed and deserving candidates. People who suffered immense loss owing to the poor yield could enroll into “Fasal Bima Yojana”. This helped the farmer families insure their lands. In case of poor yield also, those poor farmers had not to worry.

Old age – New solutions

“Lok Suraj Abhiyaan” also dealt with elderly and disabled people ’s problems. People who could not afford medical fees and other expenses now can enroll in medical schemes and get help from the government. The pain of helplessness of old age can only be understood by those who face it. For such old age, people who had to survive by depending on their kids now are receiving their own pension with which they could earn a respectful living. Who would like defecating in open? Toilets in every house were made compulsory for everyone and government helped them to build their own. Public toilets were also made under “Swachchata Abhiyaan”.

Whenever the news of CM coming to their village for any campaign was spread, a huge number of people would gather to interact with their favorite leader. They share and discuss their opinions, problems and grievances. The sight of direct interaction of public and government is one of a kind. This is what is called a “Good Governance”- “SURAJ”.