The Patna district has administration disposed of 8,059 cases out of 9,236 applications received in the one year since the launch of the public grievance redress system.

The system is meant for time-bound redress of grievances and also action against officials concerned who fail to redress grievances within the stipulated time of 60 days.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had launched the system on June 5, 2016, and Bihar is probably the first state in India to have such a system for government officials.

The system replaced the decade-old janata durbar which Nitish used to hold every Monday to listen to people's complaints.

Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said the system had brought cheer to residents who earlier had to run from pillar to post to get their work done.

"After the implementation of the public grievance redress system, many things have changed in the Patna district and I really feel happy to announce that of 9,236 applications, we managed to dispose of 8,059 cases," Agarwal said. There are seven grievance redress offices in Patna district at the sub-division level, which includes Patna district (2,321 complaints in one year), Danapur (1,495), Patna Sadar (2,092), Patna City (996), Paliganj (750), Barh (790) and Masaurhi (792).

A total of 1,177 applications are still pending because they are less than 60 days old.

In the system, four areas have been exempted: matters related to court, service matters of public servants, matters related to Right to Information Act, and matters related to the Right to Public Service Act.

Agarwal said several cases pending for years had been solved through the system.

"Cases related to kidnapping, measurement of land, land dispute, illegal electric connection, release of pension, birth certificate and death certificate cases were solved. The public grievance redress system has set the benchmark in functioning of the government," said Agarwal, who was accompanied by the public grievances redress officer of Patna district.

The district administration also released a booklet on complaints that were solved.

The Patna DM said action had been taken against erring officials who failed to perform their duties.

"Four officials were fined Rs 2,000 each and disciplinary action has been taken against two officials who failed to redress the grievances within the stipulated time-frame," he said. "To take this system to more people, we have decided to go the block level as well. We will hold camps at the block level and officials concerned will also be present. However, the matter would be solved at the sub-division level only."

Agarwal also inspected the six special redress counters set up on the collectorate premises to receive applications of complainants.