Special centres to spread awareness about rights

Patiala, September 24

Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, will set up information, education and communication (IEC) units in villages and cities of the state in order to apprise people of their rights and responsibilities.
The institute will select five IEC volunteers from each village and municipal ward in cities and train them to spread awareness.
Director general of the institute BK Srivastava said this project had been initiated to create awareness in the residents about their rights, moral values and social responsibilities.
“Lack of information about various issues often leads to problems for common people and they fall prey to the traps of agents, who misguide them about their rights. Therefore, we are looking forward to train people with a view to eradicate ignorance,” Srivastava said.
He said the administrative research and training centres would also be established in the offices of the SDMs in order to inform people at the grassroots level about administrative reforms introduced by the government with the help of NGOs. This would help them in keeping themselves update and act accordingly.
Srivastava said as many as 90 per cent cases were sorted out at the level of SDMs and they acted as a link between common people and higher administrative officials. “Due to lack of knowledge about their rights and responsibilities, common man is often deprived of government facilities,” he added.