‘Talk With Mayor’ programme launched in Kochi

‘Talk With Mayor’, the monthly public interaction programme of Mayor V.K. Minimol, will be held alternately in the city and West Kochi.

The programme was launched here on Monday. Initially, the plan was to conduct the programme simultaneously in both locations every month, with the Mayor and deputy mayor presiding over the sessions in turn. However, the format was revised on the grounds that splitting officials between two venues could hamper decision-making.

“For instance, holding two sessions would mean the Corporation secretary and additional secretary attending separately, which would adversely affect decisions that require the secretary’s approval,” Ms. Minimol explained. The initiative is among the 21 priority projects announced by the newly elected United Democratic Front committee for its first 50 days in office.

The inaugural session drew suggestions from diverse quarters, including college students and the trading community. Students of Sacred Hearts College, Thevara, highlighted the shortage of public transport during peak hours and alleged that private buses often denied them entry. Their counterparts from Cochin College sought sporting facilities such as artificial turf and open gyms to help insulate the student community from substance abuse.

Other proposals included the infusion of modern technologies like artificial intelligence to improve urban life, enhanced mobility, and a street vending policy. While some grievances raised at the session were resolved on the spot, action taken on the rest will be communicated at the next meeting.

Public adalat

A public adalat to address grievances related to pending applications — another of the 21 priority projects — was also launched on Monday. The inaugural adalat took up 167 general complaints, while pending applications of 497 beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana were settled by deciding to implement a Government Order that permitted issuing unauthorised (UA) numbers without burdening them with a levy of triple the normal tax. The uncertainty had stalled the allocation of benefits to these applicants, Ms. Minimol said.

She added that public adalats would be held once every three months, including at the Corporation’s zonal offices, depending on the nature of grievances to be addressed.