How to use SAKALA to get your Government work done in time
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Did you know that you can be paid compensation if your government work is not done on time? A 36-year-old aerospace engineer in Bangalore received a cheque of Rs 500 drawn out of a RTO official’s salary for the delayed delivery of service. Turn to Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act, 2011 also popularly known as SAKALA whenever your work at the government office is not moving.
Ajit Patil, Director CredenceIS, Belgaum got all of his company formation papers done on time like within months and the credit goes to the SAKALA act, he just had to wait for the stipulated time to expire and call the GSC call center number to complain. Works like this use to take months to years before the SAKALA act.
The Karnataka Guarantee of Services Act 2011. This comprises the largest ever offered set of services to citizens under any other Act of the States of India.
What is SAKALA?
Sakala is a scheme which assures timely delivery of government services to citizens. In all, Sakala offers 375 services under various departments which are sought after by the citizens. In Short, It is an Act to empower the citizens in getting what they want in the time defined.
How Does Sakala Work?
Whenever the request for the service is made, the citizen receives an acknowledgement slip with a unique 15 digit number called the Guarantee of Services to Citizen (GSC) number.
With the help of the GSC number, a citizen can monitor the status of his application on the web-site www.sakala.kar.nic.in.![sampl_GSC_Ack]()
This system also has a mobile interface. Citizens can check the status of their application by sending an SMS from a mobile phone by typing their 15 digit GSC number. The system will send a reply back to them with current status of the application, the system also sends message updates every time the status of the application changes. Citizens are encouraged to give their mobile numbers at the time of registrations so that they can be automatically intimated about the interim status of their applications. Hence their visits to offices are reduced.
Grievance Redressal
In case the application is rejected or if the service is not provided within the stipulated time, citizens can file an appeal before the competent officer (CO) to redress their grievance quoting the GSC number or simply call the call Centre – 080 4455 4455. The competent officer will hear the appeal and redress the grievance within the specified time. Citizens can claim in cash the compensatory cost of Rs. 20 per day for the delayed period subject to a maximum of Rs. 500 from the CO, upfront. The same shall be deducted from the salary of the designated officer or his subordinate responsible for delay or default.
Single Window Approach: Call Centre is a bridge between citizens and the Mission. For a large number of people who may be unable to use either the SMS mode or the website, a ‘Call Centre’ is available to assist the citizens (080-4455 4455). A single call by the citizen giving the GSC no. is sufficient to set the appeal process rolling.
In order to accord it a high priority – A Mission has been constituted to assist Department of Administrative reforms in the implementation of this Act. This Mission is led by a Senior IAS officer -Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, Secretary Administrative Reforms Department as ex-officio Mission Director, assisted by Mr. Munish Moudgil, IAS as the Addl. Mission Director, they are assisted by core team to manage the everyday affairs.
Few frequently accessed government services under Sakala and their timelines.
Services Under City Corporation
1. Issue of Birth,Still Birth and Death Certificates – 3 Working Days
2. Khatha Extract – 5 Working Days
4. New Building License upto 2400 sqft residential for single dwelling unit 30 Working Days
5. Permission for water supply and UGD connection for residential buildings single dwelling unit 15 Working Days
Commericial Tax Department
1 Issue of registration under the KVAT Act, 2003 -25 Working Days
2 Issue of registration under the CST Act,1956 – 25 Working Days
3 Issue of C Form declarations under the CST Act, 1956. – 10 Working Days
Food and Civil Supplies Department
1 TRANSFER RATION CARD TO-OTHER AREA(TALUK/DISTRICT/STATE) – 7 working days
2. MODIFICATION OF EXISTING RC ( DELETION / ADDITION OF A MEMBER, CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITHIN THE SAME TALUK ) – 7 Working Days
3. DUPLICATE RATION CARD – 7 Working Days
4. CHANGE OF ADDRESS WITHIN SAME AREA/TALUK – 7 Working Days
5. ADDITION OF MEMBERS – 7 Working Days
6. NEW RC DUE TO SURRENDER CERTIFICATE – 7 Working Days
With inputs from Ajit Patil, Director CredenceIS, Belgaum
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