Team News Riveting
Raipur, September 27
Recalling an anecdote from the early years of his political career, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai emphasized the urgent need to reform the revenue administration.
“Back in 1990, when I was newly elected as an MLA, a tall, saintly-looking man approached me with an application. He had been running from pillar to post in the revenue office since 1964, the year I was born, for a resolution to his case,” Sai recalled.
He remembered every detail of his matter by heart and did not even need to refer to any documents. “I personally took him to the SDM office in my car and ensured his case was resolved,” said said during a review meeting of the Revenue Department held at his residence today.
Stressing the need for systemic improvements, he emphasized that the Revenue Department is directly linked to the common man and that there is an urgent need to work towards enhancing its public image. The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister Tankaram Verma.
The Chief Minister stated that Patwaris (village revenue officers) who have been stationed at the same place for long periods should be transferred to different locations at regular intervals. He emphasized the need to establish a system where transfers become mandatory after a specified tenure in a particular Halka or Tehsil area. “The public often requires Patwaris’ assistance for their day-to-day official work,” he noted. Directing the officers, Sai insisted that Patwaris must ensure they stay at their designated headquarters and perform their duties from there.
He also issued directives to complete the process of transferring the ownership rights of various government office lands across the state in favour of the government through a special campaign. Additionally, he called for expeditious action to distribute urban leases in urban areas.
The Chief Minister stressed on speeding up the resolution of revenue cases, including inheritance transfers, division of property, and undisputed transfers, ensuring that they are addressed within the given timeframe. He encouraged the Revenue Department to work diligently on digital innovations aimed at enhancing citizen services.
Secretary of the Revenue Department, Avinash Champawat, apprised the Chief Minister of the various schemes, activities, and requirements of the department. He shared an updated overview of the administrative structure along with details on key initiatives such as the Swamitva Scheme, functioning of the Relief Office, Revenue Courts, geo-referencing, and digital crop survey, among others.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Secretaries to the Chief Minister, P Dayanand and Rahul Bhagat, Commissioner of Land Records Ramesh Sharma, and other senior officials.
