Citizen’s Charter

Citizen’s Charter

• A Citizen’s Charter outlines the standard of services provided by a government organization, along with information on the grievance redressal mechanism.
• History:
  • The first Citizen’s Charter was introduced in the UK in 1991 by John Major.
  • The concept was introduced in India in 1996 during the Conference of Chief Secretaries.
• First Citizen’s Charter in India: Issued by the Ministry of Food and Supplies in 1997.
• Features of a Model Citizen’s Charter:

1. Should be simple and clear.
2. Should be created in consultation with citizens.
3. Should use local languages.
4. Regular review every 6 months.

Legal Rights in India:

• Key Legal Rights Established by Parliament:
  1. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
  2. Right to Information Act, 2005 (effective from 12 October 2005)
  3. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005
  4. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  5. Rajasthan Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011
  6. Rajasthan Right of Hearing Act, 2012

Local Self-Government in India:

• Types:
  • Rural Local Self-Government: Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samiti, Zila Parishad.
  • Urban Local Self-Government: Municipalities, Municipal Councils, Municipal Corporations.

Development of Local Self-Government:

• Father of Local Self-Government: Lord Ripon, who passed a resolution in 1882, often referred to as the Magna Carta of Local Self-Government.
• Panchayati Raj System: First introduced in Bagdari, Nagaur in 1959.

73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992):

• Added Part IX to the Constitution, giving constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Key Recommendations of Important Committees:

• Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957): Suggested the three-tier system for Panchayati Raj.
• Ashok Mehta Committee (1977): Proposed a two-tier Panchayati Raj system.
• L.M. Singhvi Committee (1986): Recommended constitutional recognition for Panchayati Raj.

The State Information Commission, along with the Right to Information Act, plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities in Rajasthan, empowering citizens to access information and participate more actively in governance.