Ahmedabad, May 9 (IANS) The Gujarat unit of the Congress on Monday launched a statewide 'lok darbar' (public court) to address public issues pending with the BJP-ruled state government, ahead of the 2017 assembly elections.
The first 'lok darbar' was organised on the auspicious day of 'Akshay Tritya' at the Hindu religious place of Utkantheshwar that falls in leader of opposition Shankersinh Vaghela's Kapadwanj assembly constituency.
The opposition party plans to hold such events across all districts of Gujarat in the next three months.
On this occasion, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee president Bharatsinh Solanki launched a dedicated website -- www.lokdarbar.in -- and a mobile app to make the initiative high-tech and reach out to a large number of people.
Senior Congress leaders will listen to public grievances related to employment, agriculture, trade and commerce, infrastructure problems pertaining to roads, drinking water, irrigation, transportation, land, inflation, minority issues, education, corruption in the government, pollution, environment and others.
Forms will be distributed for the public to fill in information regarding their problems, which the local Congress cadre will then take it up with the authorities concerned.
Addressing the first 'lok darbar', Vaghela said those unable to attend the event can send in their problems through the website and the mobile app. He said the Congress will try to redress public grievances and update them on the status within a fortnight.