G.O.(Ms) No.377, Revival of Mass Contact Programme, Revised Guidelines, 2022
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Administration Wing, R.A.3(2) Section issued G.O.(Ms) No.377, dated August 22, 2022, reviving the Mass Contact Programme and prescribing revised guidelines for all districts in Tamil Nadu. The government expressly superseded all earlier guidelines and directed district administrations to receive and resolve public grievances, including land-related issues, through monthly village programmes.
What the guidelines do
The Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Revenue Administration Wing, R.A.3(2) Section issued G.O.(Ms) No.377, dated August 22, 2022, to govern the Mass Contact Programme across Tamil Nadu. The programme brings the District Collector and district officials to villages so that public grievances can be received and resolved on the spot where possible.
Who may be affected
Residents may use the Mass Contact Programme to submit individual or community petitions. The guidelines are particularly relevant to people with land-related grievances, disadvantaged groups, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families, persons with disabilities, and residents of tribal or poorly served villages.
Programme schedule and village selection
The Mass Contact Programme must:
- Be held once every month, on the second Wednesday.
- Be moved to the next working day if the second Wednesday is a holiday.
- Be conducted by the District Collector, or by the District Revenue Officer if the District Collector is unavailable.
- Prefer an interior village that higher officials generally do not visit, including atrocity-prone villages, tribal villages, villages with disadvantaged populations, or villages with limited infrastructure.
- Be announced in the village four weeks in advance.
Petitions and land issues
A designated team must visit the selected village four weeks before the programme, assess existing facilities, and collect petitions. Key requirements include:
- Entering petitions into the system and generating acknowledgments.
- Classifying petitions as community-oriented or individual-oriented.
- Examining petitions during the four-week preparation period.
- Giving petitioners a reply from the District Collector on the programme day.
- Organising a special campaign before the programme to sort out all land-related issues.
- Sanctioning eligible individual assistance and distributing orders during the programme where possible.
Camps, inspections and follow-up
District administrations may organise health, veterinary, soil testing, cleaning, waste management, tree planting and livelihood activities. District Collectors may also review Village Panchayat functioning, organise Gram Sabha meetings, and inspect schools, ongoing works and water bodies.
Petitions not disposed of during the programme must be sent to the relevant department. A reply must be given within one month, and the grievance should be resolved within a maximum of two months. If more time is expected, an interim reply is required. Petitions pending for more than 60 days must be reviewed by the relevant Head of Department.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can I raise a land-related grievance at the Mass Contact Programme?
Yes. G.O.(Ms) No.377 requires a special campaign before the programme to sort out all land-related issues in the selected village.
When is the Mass Contact Programme held?
It is held on the second Wednesday of every month. If that day is a holiday, it must be held on the next working day.
Will I receive an acknowledgment for my petition?
Yes. Petitions must be entered into the system and an acknowledgment must be generated.
How long can my petition remain pending?
The grievance should be resolved within a maximum of two months. If it is likely to take longer, an interim reply must be sent, and any petition pending for more than 60 days must be reviewed by the relevant Head of Department.
