PMO to replace existing public grievances site with new portal 'Pragati'

Prime Minister Modi is all set to launch a new website for public grievances. PMO will be replacing the existing public web-interface with a new portal called ‘Pragati’. The new portal will be launched alongside PM’s monthly programme wherein he interacts with union secretaries and chief secretaries via video conference. With the new portal, the government reportedly plans to focus on concerns around corruption. The older portal called ‘PMO CPGRAMS’ did feature the corruption/malpractice category. However, according to The Economic Times, the corruption category in the new portal will come with ’nine sub-categories to register complaints of corruption within various government departments’. Departments such as telecom, railways, departments of financial services, ministry of power, petroleum, heavy industries, urban development, road transport, rural development and others have been listed under the category of corruption. The categories and sub-categories aim at helping users to be more specific in their complaints. “Harassment is further sub-categorised into minorities, SC/ST, backward class, women, children, differently-abled and others. Also, the theme ‘police’ would have separate sub-categories for corruption, atrocities and inaction of police along with regular policing issues like murder and rape,” adds the report. It will be backed by bureaucratic and technological support to ensure grievances are efficiently addressed to a logical conclusion. Interestingly, the government plans a ‘Pragati Day’, every third Wednesday of every month, wherein it will discuss the issues. The issues flagged by the PMO have to be updated a week ahead and union secretaries and chief secretaries will have add their comments and updates by Monday prior to the Pragati Day. PM will offer directions on every issue raised and the system will have to follow up and review it till the issue is closed.