TIRUVALLUR: Beginning this Monday, public who come to Tiruvallur collectorate need not have to wait in the sweltering heat till their turn comes and give money to get their petitions written by touts who usually charge exorbitant sums.
Thanks to collector E. Sundaravalli, a hall had been constructed inside the collectorate for the public to wait and get their petitions written by women from self help groups free of cost.
Every Monday, thousands of people come to the collectorate to meet the collector to submit their petitions in person. Usually, they wait under trees for long hours to get their work done and pay between Rs 50 and Rs 100 to petition writers sitting under trees and get their representations written.
“It is predominantly a rural district and people come from far away places like Pallipattu and Gummudipoondi and I have heard they spend money to get their petitions written. Now, I have asked members of several self help groups to be present at the collectorate every Monday to ensure that petitions of the public are written in proper format without any charge,” Sundaravalli told Deccan Chronicle.
People from all walks of life come to the collectorate everyday, especially on Monday, when the collector meets them personally to receive their petitions.
The new hall, built at a cost of Rs 7 lakh, will accommodate the people and SHG members. The women who come to write petitions will be provided lunch and transport.
“Collectors receive petitions from the public every Monday on the Chief Minister’s instructions. Since I thought people should have a special hall for this purpose, I instructed PWD to ensure that such a facility is arranged for the people. In the coming months, we will also streamline the inflow of people and have separate counters,” she said.
