The State the Government and You — Question 3

Citizens engage with the government in day-to-day life in various ways: Using public services like schools, hospitals, transport, water supply, and electricity. Contacting local authorities such as ward councillors, panchayat leaders, or government offices to solve issues. Using print, electronic and social media to express concerns, report problems, and highlight public issues that need government attention. People can make the government work for them in the following ways: (a) At the central government level, mechanisms like CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System) allow citizens to report corruption and service-related issues through a digital platform, ensuring quicker government action. (b) The Right to Information Act (RTI): This Act allows citizens to ask the government for details about its policies, decisions, and actions of public interest. People can request information such as money spent on local projects, beneficiary lists of schemes, or the progress of public works like roads or metro lines. Government officials are legally required to provide this information. (c) Print, electronic, and social media are powerful tools to raise issues that need government action, often resulting in quicker responses as many officials actively monitor platforms like YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram. (d) Civil society groups and NGOs working on issues like education, health, environment, or women’s empowerment allow citizens to participate actively and collectively push the government to address important public concerns. (e) Citizens can write to local representatives, MLAs, MPs, or ministers to urge them to take action on important issues. (f) Through voting, people can elect good candidates and reject those who do not work in the public interest. Let’s Explore