File settlement effort in Secretariat again; Chief Minister demands correct data

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is planning another effort to settle the files pending in the secretariat. The Chief Minister's Office has directed the department heads to submit the number of pending files. After receiving the figures, the Chief Minister will call their meeting.

The cabinet had recently approved two-level file verification. A settlement effort was held from August to October 2019 but no progress was made. Out of 1.98 lakh files, only 68,000 were settled.

The number of files increased during the Covid pandemic. File adalats in departments are not effective. The 44 departments in the Secretariat are under the control of the Department of Public Administration. The actual number of pending files is not available. The departments will start counting only when the effort is declared. An average of 20,000 new files are generated per month. In the absence of settlement effort, 17,000 files were settled per month.The file adalat will be held one day in three months in the Secretariat. Emergency files are preferred during then.