Kerala govt to launch citizen response programme field study on Jan. 1

The State government is embarking on a unique mission to gather people’s policy aspirations to revise ongoing schemes and projects and formulate new ones. 

From January 1, trained volunteers will conduct door-to-door visits across homes to record people’s responses to four key discussion points: their specific or broad suggestions for new development projects; the changes or additions they wish to see in ongoing projects; their suggestions for new welfare schemes; and any desirable changes in the existing welfare schemes.

Named the ‘Nava Keralam Citizen Response Programme Development/ Welfare Study’, the initiative is a means for the government to understand the development needs of the people and involve them in the policy-planning process, according to a senior official. Each household will be visited by volunteers drawn from the registered pool of the Samoohika Sannadha Sena, who will record responses — via voice or text — on a dedicated app. 

“If anyone does not want volunteers to record their responses, they can submit them directly on the portal. The drive is intended to gauge what people want in terms of development and welfare,” the official said. 

Some 750 listed trainers have already undergone training at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and other centres, and have in turn trained another 4,000 volunteers in the process. Training for many more is in progress. Besides households, volunteers will also visit public gatherings, auto stands, old-age homes, and similar places to conduct the study. 

“The field study is scheduled to conclude on January 31, after which the data will be collated and reviewed. The app is designed to categorise suggestions using multiple parameters, such as topic and region. The Institute of Management in Government will further analyse these reports and prepare a final document with policy-related recommendations,” the official said. 

The drive forms part of a series of interventions by the State government to enhance accountability in governance, said another official, citing examples such as the annual progress report prepared by the government and the Nava Kerala Sadas and Vikasana Sadas initiatives. 

A decision to conduct such a study was approved by the Cabinet in October, following which a four-member advisory committee and a comprehensive State-level executive committee were established for its implementation. 

The Cabinet note stated: “The objective is to turn the study report into a useful document for future development by collecting information about the development needs of each area, shortcomings of implemented projects, suggestions for implementing welfare projects more effectively, and opinions/suggestions regarding the implementation of other government projects.”