Date:19/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/19/stories/2008071958790300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Interface with residents’ associations on Sunday

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: A convention of heads of various departments, convened by the District Collector to prepare grounds for establishing an interface with residents’ associations will be held at the District Panchayat Hall, Kakkanad, on Sunday at 10 a.m.

Mayor Mercy Williams will inaugurate the convention. District Collector M. Beena will preside and District Panchayat president P.S. Shyla will deliver the keynote address. This is part of the effort to address public issues in association with the Ernakulam District Residents’ Associations Apex Council (EDRAAC). The district administration is planning to evolve an interaction platform like the Police Residents’ Association Initiative in District Ernakulam (PRIDE), which the EDRAAC has established with the City Police. It has been decided to hold similar conventions on a monthly basis. Issues related to Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board, and Departments of Public Works, Civil Supplies, Health, Revenue, Agriculture, Excise, Motor Vehicles and Local Self-Government bodies will be discussed at the convention. Complaints regarding any of these departments could be submitted in writing at the convention. EDRAAC president P. Rangadasa Prabhu and secretary P.K. Gopalakrishnan and representatives of nearly 400 residents’ associations will attend the convention along with officials concerned.