Meghalaya launches first district digital grievance portal

Meghalaya deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said every district should have a dedicated digital platform to address public grievances as he inaugurated the East Khasi Hills district portal, the first such initiative in the state.

The portal, dc-ekh.in, was launched at the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office. Tynsong described it as “the beginning of a larger transformation in governance” and said it would provide citizens with a convenient and accessible platform to raise grievances at the individual, village and community levels.

“The government is working towards creating an efficient service delivery mechanism that reaches every citizen,” he said, expressing confidence that the initiative would improve administrative responsiveness and public satisfaction.

Tynsong lauded East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Abhilash Baranwal for conceptualising the portal and said the district administration has introduced several citizen-centric initiatives to make government services more accessible.

Referring to recent reforms, he said the government has directed District Transport Offices (DTOs) to facilitate the issuance of driving licences, reflecting its commitment to taking public services to the grassroots.

He said that while several government departments already provide online services, district administrations often face challenges in coordinating and resolving grievances involving multiple stakeholders.

“The East Khasi Hills portal is the first initiative of its kind in Meghalaya and is expected to serve as a model for other districts,” Tynsong added.

East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Abhilash Baranwal said residents can lodge complaints through the portal or submit them through Gram Sevaks, who will forward them to the respective Block Development Officers (BDOs).

Grievances can also be sent by post or submitted directly at the deputy commissioner’s office.

Baranwal said the portal includes an online tracking system that enables complainants to monitor the progress of their cases, ensuring greater transparency, accountability and timely resolution of public grievances.