Guidelines For Conducting 'UNGALAI THEDI, UNGAL OORIL' Programme by District Collectors at Taluk Level

What the programme governs

G.O.(Ms) No.22 dated 29 January 2024, issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Administration Wing, R.A. 3(2) Section, establishes guidelines for the 'Ungalai Thedi, Ungal Ooril' programme. The programme is intended to improve public service delivery and speed up government schemes, projects and works through taluk level visits by the district administration.

The guidelines apply to District Collectors in every district except Chennai. During each camp, the District Collector and district level officers must inspect government offices and public facilities, review pending grievances, meet residents and act on feedback.

Who may be affected

The 'Ungalai Thedi, Ungal Ooril' programme affects residents who use government services or have petitions pending with district authorities. Property owners and other land users may find it relevant because inspections can include taluk offices, firka offices, Village Administrative Officer offices, Block Development Offices, panchayat offices and other local facilities.

Applications already submitted through Mudhalvarin Mugavari or other channels from the selected taluk must also be taken up for resolution. Petitions are to be examined and decided by the competent authorities in a time bound manner.

Camp schedule and preparation

The 'Ungalai Thedi, Ungal Ooril' camp must be held once every month, on the fourth Wednesday. If that day is a holiday, it must be held on the next working day. For January 2024, the specified camp date was 31 January 2024.

Key preparation requirements include:

• The District Collector must prepare an annual schedule that covers all taluks uniformly from January to December.
• Advance publicity must be provided through official, electronic, print and social media.
• Department teams must visit the taluk one week before the camp to receive public representations at firka level.
• Applications must be numbered, entered into the system and acknowledged.
• Villages and wards may be grouped into time slots to prevent overcrowding.

What happens during a camp

The District Collector and participating officers must remain in the selected taluk for 24 hours, from 9 AM to 9 AM the following day. Officers inspect services, schemes, works, offices, health facilities, schools and other public facilities across the taluk.

In the afternoon, officials hold a review meeting and present findings from inspections. The District Collector then meets the public, hears grievances and receives representations. Evening and early morning visits cover facilities and civic services such as street lights, water supply, sanitation, public transport and public toilets. A camp report must be sent to the Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration before the fifth day of the following month.