From schools, hospitals, NGOs to discoms, more power to lokayukta
Delhi govt set to include all pvt organisations funded by it in draft janlokpal bill, ensure time-bound services, grievance redressal
NEW DELHI: Did a private school demand donation to admit your child? Or a private hospital overcharge you for a medical procedure? Any such complaint may soon be heard by the lokayukta under the new janlokpal bill to be tabled in the Delhi assembly next month.
To make private organisations funded directly or indirectly by the state government more accountable, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government is all set to include them in the draft bill, which is likely to be submitted Wednesday.
Any NGO or organisation directly or indirectly, partially or fully funded by the government will be treated as a public authority, sources said. They will be answerable to the lokayukta and will have to provide timebound services, failing which people can complain to the anticorruption watchdog.
“For instance, power distribution companies, private schools and hospitals provided land at cheaper rates by the government will come under the lokayukta’s purview,” said a senior Delhi government official.
“Any NGO or organisation substantially funded by the government is likely to come under the lokayukta’s ambit. But this is yet to be finalised,” said Rahul Mehra, a member of the committee drafting the janlokpal bill who is also part of AAP’s expert committee on judicial reforms.
The ‘ Delhi janlokpal bill’ seeks to repeal the existing lokayukta in the state, termed “toothless and ineffective” by AAP, and replace it with a more powerful watchdog.
In addition, these entities will have to produce a citizen’s charter detailing time limits for various services.
Presently, Delhi is plagued by multiplicity of authorities. In the case of private schools, complaints about nursery admissions or fee hike are looked at by the directorate of education but issues related to school infrastructure, teacher attendance aren’t under direct control of the state government.