BELAGAVI: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar issued a stern directive to bureaucrats, stating, “My top priority is ensuring that the government reaches the people, rather than making citizens run around searching for government offices. Officials must act with dignity and stop making the public wander around for basic services.”

He made these remarks while chairing the Belagavi Division-level Progress Review Meeting at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

Launch of Prajaseva Department: To expedite public grievance redressal, the CM announced the establishment of a dedicated ‘Prajaseva Department’ (Public Service Department), which will be headed by a separate cabinet minister. He directed District In-charge Ministers to conduct ‘Janaspandana’ (public outreach) meetings on the first and third Saturdays of every month in select taluks to resolve local issues within the legal framework. A standard operating format will be designed for receiving and disposing of applications during these meetings.

Boost to Education, Housing, and Youth: To curb rural-to-urban migration driven by the search for quality education and jobs, the government plans to construct 2,000 modern government schools utilizing Rs 8,000 crore under CSR funds. Furthermore, the CM outlined plans to distribute 5,000 to 10,000 housing sites to the poor in every constituency and establish an industrial park in every taluk.

He also announced the formation of ‘Bharat Jodo Yuvak Sanghas’ across the state, with an allocation of Rs 10 lakh per panchayat. A total corpus of Rs 1,000 crore has been reserved for establishing 10,000 such youth organizations.

Guarantees Complement Development – DCM Parameshwara: Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara refuted claims that the implementation of state guarantees had hindered developmental activities. Addressing the 17% rainfall deficit in North Karnataka, he directed local task forces to ensure a consistent drinking water supply and sufficient fodder stock. Highlighting the Revenue Department’s massive digital drive, he noted that the digitization of 1.4 billion pages of land records is a pioneering initiative that will set a national benchmark.

The meeting was attended by Pro-tem Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Rudrappa Lamani, Ministers M.B. Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, U.T. Khader, Eshwar Khandre, Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, and other senior officials.

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