BBMP centres to keep in touch with public!

BBMP centres to keep in touch with public!
By Fathima Sumaya Khan,DHNS,Bangalore:
The BBMP is shortly setting up samparka kendras (contact points) to effectively address civic problems. BBMP Commissioner S Subramanya said Rs 20 crore will be initially allocated to set up three to four contact points in every ward.

According to him, each contact point will have five officials, including a health official, revenue officer, horticulture expert, administrative officer and an enforcement officer, who will address specific problems.
Each contact point will cover 4,000 houses and each contact point will be provided with a van which will patrol designated wards every day and keep monitor cleanliness in the area, discrepancies in parking of vehicles, building violations and functioning of other civic amenities.
These vans will be provided with digital cameras which will record irregularities in BBMP services such as poor garbage disposal, bad roads or drains. The commissioner himself will scrutinise the recorded clippings.
The Palike plans to set up a call centre to deal with citizens’ queries on contact points.
“BBMP has 17,000 employees. No additional staff is required for the call centre. The existing staff will be trained on addressing complaints. The call centre number will be made public next month,” said the Commissioner.
The contact points will offer basic health care facilities such as health check-ups.
“These facilities can be availed of by everyone, but they are aimed at the underprivileged. The economically weaker sections will be exempted from medical fee, while others have to pay some nominal charges.”
A lady doctor and a male doctor, who will be paid Rs 300 each for their services per day, and an assistant will be available at these points from 4 pm to 8 pm. In addition, some medicines will also be stocked there.
Like any other Bangalorean, the BBMP Commissioner too seems to have got fed up with the traffic problems caused by potholed roads. “Presently, the Palike’s focus is on road works and filling up potholes,” he said.