Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday announced that his government would establish a dedicated secretariat to address public grievances and ensure that citizens' concerns receive timely attention. The Chief Minister also directed officials to prepare detailed action plans for their respective departments within the next fifteen days. Emphasising transparency and accountability, he urged bureaucrats not to give in to any form of pressure and instead perform their duties with integrity, conscience, and a positive mindset.
A day after taking charge as Chief Minister, Shivakumar convened a meeting with senior bureaucrats and top police officials to outline the priorities and direction of the new government. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shivakumar said a separate secretariat would be created specifically to deal with public complaints, demands, and grievances. He noted that a minister would be assigned to interact with people arriving in Bengaluru from different parts of the state, including those participating in protests and demonstrations.
“A separate secretariat will be established to address public grievances, and a minister will be appointed to listen to people coming to Bengaluru from across the state with complaints, demands, or issues, including those staging protests or agitations. There is a need for such a separate secretariat,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that several groups visit the state capital every day to voice their concerns. According to him, there must be a structured mechanism to engage with them, assess the legitimacy of their demands, and understand the issues they face.
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“Every day, two or three groups come here to protest. Someone has to meet them and understand their problems. It is important to determine whether their demands are legal or illegal. Officials must meet them, hear the facts, and understand their issues. Therefore, a decision has been made to establish a separate secretariat,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, Director General of Police M A Saleem, and other senior government officials. Shivakumar said the government had effectively begun its work from Thursday and that officials had been briefed on the administration’s objectives and expectations. “We told them what is expected of them, and they, in turn, told us what they expect from us,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that his administration would not allow influence based on caste or religion and urged officials to remain impartial while carrying out their responsibilities. “Officials must respond transparently to the feelings and concerns of the people. They have been instructed to work with a positive approach,” he said. Reiterating the importance of accountability, Shivakumar said every department had been asked to submit an action plan within fifteen days.
“Everything must be accountable. There should be basic common sense, and every problem has a solution. There must be a positive attitude and approach. I conveyed this to the officials,” he stated. Reflecting on his vision for governance, Shivakumar remarked that he preferred creating history rather than merely reading or writing about it. “I do not like reading or writing history; I prefer creating history. We must leave behind evidence of our work. Whenever we have had an opportunity, we have done so. This government will work in the same direction as well,” he said.
The Chief Minister concluded by reminding officials that they are accountable to the public and should perform their duties according to their conscience and within the framework of the law. “I told officials not to bow to any pressure, whether from ministers, MLAs, or even my own office. They should work within the framework of the law and maintain a positive approach. Wherever there is a problem, they should find a solution within the system—that is my message,” he added.
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