Bengaluru: Citizens in Karnataka will soon find it easier to file complaints with government departments as the state prepares to launch an Artificial Intelligence-enabled Grievance Redressal System.

Developed by the Centre for e-Governance, Karnataka, the platform is expected to assist citizens in drafting complaint letters related to issues such as water supply, electricity, roads, or government schemes. Users will need to provide only basic details, following which the AI tool will automatically generate and forward the complaint to the relevant department. The facility will be available in both Kannada and English, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.

The upcoming platform is an enhancement of the existing Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (iPGRS), which has been in operation since 2021. Under the current model, complainants must identify the appropriate department before submitting their grievances online. However, many citizens often face difficulties in determining which authority to approach.

“In the new AI-enabled system, one needs to give just the basic information of the complainant and key words like water supply disruptions for how many days, power cuts, bad roads, money not being credited under schemes and such,” TNIE quoted its source as saying.

Complainants will also be able to upload photographs or supporting documents related to their grievance. Each complaint will generate a grievance ID, and details of the concerned officer, including contact number and office address, will be shared with the complainant.

The system reportedly uses ChatGPT to draft complaint letters and ensure they are directed to the appropriate district or department official. The grievance resolution process will remain time-bound, with complaints expected to be addressed within seven days.

“If a junior official fails to resolve an issue, on the eighth day, it will be automatically escalated to his senior officer. Here again, seven days will be given and then finally the head of the department will get the message on the 15th day and it has to be resolved in 21 days,’’ the source further explained.

Currently under trial, the AI-enabled grievance system is expected to be rolled out across the state by next month.

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Bhubaneswar (PTI): Odisha Police has found itself in a spot after some of its personnel, including senior officers, were criticised on social media for sporting coloured and unconventional hairstyles.

The latest incident was reported from Jagatsinghpur district, where a DSP-rank officer was trolled online for his red-coloured hair, putting the police administration in an awkward position, a senior officer said.

The officer, identified as Rashmi Ranjan Das, saw his hairstyle go viral on social media, drawing criticism from several quarters.

Some users termed the look "unprofessional", while others questioned whether such an appearance befitted a uniformed officer, alleging it undermined the authority and seriousness associated with the khaki.

"After finding the DSP being trolled on social media, I have instructed the Jagatsinghpur SP to tell the officer to maintain decorum and keep his hairstyle decent, befitting a man in uniform," Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Satyajit Naik told PTI.

Naik, however, said the police department has not yet issued any circular or order in this regard.

"We have told the officer to maintain decency. Everything cannot go by written orders. From constables to senior officers, everyone in the police service should respect the uniform and give utmost priority to decency," he said.

Another senior police officer said women police personnel across the country, including Odisha, are also seen colouring their hair in shades such as coffee, chocolate, ash, auburn, caramel and golden.

"One cannot issue an order to keep hair black always. There are people who have natural brown hair. This apart, greying is also a natural phenomenon. What can be done in these cases? Therefore, no order can be issued with regard to hair colour," the officer said, adding that it depends on individual police officers.

A woman police officer in the city, who has coloured her hair ash, said no law or rule prohibits such choices.

"We are in the police and perform our duties responsibly. People should not comment on a person’s hairstyle. We welcome criticism if we commit mistakes, but colouring hair is not a crime," she said.

A retired IPS officer said that while the police manual does not explicitly prescribe hairstyles, personnel are expected to maintain the image of a security force.

"Creating a controversy over a non-issue serves no purpose," another serving officer remarked.