CM Chandrababu Makes Key Announcement; Sparks Unease Among Officials

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu made a key announcement, stating that surprise inspections would begin any time after June 12. He made this declaration after reviewing public feedback on ration distribution, Deepam scheme, APSRTC services, and panchayat-level services in a meeting held with Chief Secretary Vijay Anand and officials from the Chief Minister’s Office.

The Chief Minister remarked that as the coalition government nears the completion of one year, there must be visible satisfaction among the public regarding the functioning of all departments and the delivery of public services. He noted that while certain departments have shown improvement, services in entities like APSRTC still need enhancement.

Chandrababu Naidu stated that under the Deepam 2 scheme, the government would transfer the annual subsidy amount for three gas cylinders in advance to beneficiaries' accounts. Beneficiaries may then procure the cylinders as needed under the scheme, he added.

Referring to public feedback on ration distribution, he said that when asked, “Have you collected this month’s ration goods?”, 74 percent responded affirmatively. Regarding quality, 76 percent of respondents said the goods were satisfactory. West Godavari district ranked first in terms of public satisfaction with the quality of ration goods. On whether delivery personnel were demanding money during gas cylinder deliveries, 62 percent said no, though some regions still reported issues in this area.

Chandrababu Naidu expressed dissatisfaction over public feedback on APSRTC services, stating that passengers had not reported the expected level of satisfaction. He directed officials to improve their effectiveness. He further pointed out that travelers were expressing dissatisfaction with the availability of drinking water and the maintenance of toilets at bus stands, and instructed that these concerns be addressed. According to the Chief Minister, 44 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with drinking water facilities and 55 percent with toilet maintenance.

Regarding panchayat services, 60 percent of respondents confirmed that garbage was being collected from their homes, and the Chief Minister stated that garbage collection had improved in rural areas compared to the past. He added that, in the coming days, responsibility for managing wet waste would be assigned to DWCRA women’s groups, who would undertake compost production.

Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the importance of data analytics in governance. He said that data allows individual departments to assess their performance at the grassroots level. He asserted that effective analysis of public feedback could bring about transformative changes in government services. In cases where public dissatisfaction emerges with any scheme or program, he said that officials and employees should identify the root causes and act accordingly. Senior officials in each department should use data analytics to improve the services based on the feedback received, the Chief Minister added.

While these initiatives were welcomed, the Chief Minister’s announcement that surprise inspections would commence from June 12 has reportedly caused concern among officials. It is being said that the possibility of citizens directly submitting complaints to the Chief Minister during these unannounced visits is leading to anxiety and unease among the administrative personnel.