National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) is a constitutional body established under article 338A to safeguard the rights and welfare of the scheduled tribes in India. One of its key roles is to redress the grievances of the scheduled tribes and ensure that justice is delivered to them.

NCST serves as a platform where the scheduled tribes can lodge their complaints and grievances related to the violation of their rights, discrimination, and social injustices. The commission investigates these complaints and takes appropriate action to provide relief to the affected tribes.

NCST has the power to summon government officials, conduct inquiries, and issue orders to ensure that the grievances of the scheduled tribes are redressed. The commission can also recommend compensation and rehabilitation measures for the victims of atrocities, discrimination, and other forms of social injustices.

National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was established to safeguard the rights and interests of socially and economically backward classes in India. One of the key responsibilities of NCBC is to redress grievances related to the issues faced by these communities.

The role of NCBC in redressing grievances can be summarised as follows:

• Receiving and examining complaints: The NCBC receives complaints from members of backward classes and examines them to determine their validity. The commission also has the power to initiate investigations on its own if it suspects any violation of the rights of these communities.
• Facilitating resolution of grievances: NCBC acts as a mediator between complainants and relevant authorities to resolve grievances. The commission takes necessary steps to ensure that the complainants receive the justice and relief they deserve.
• Advocating for the rights of backward classes: NCBC advocates for the rights of backward classes and works towards creating an inclusive society that ensures their social, economic and political empowerment. This helps in preventing the occurrence of grievances and protecting the interests of these communities.
• Monitoring the implementation of policies and programs: NCBC monitors the implementation of policies and programs related to the welfare of backward classes to ensure that they are implemented effectively and reach the intended beneficiaries. If any shortcomings are found, the commission takes necessary measures to address them.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body created under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. Its main objective is to ensure that the rights of children are protected and that they are not subjected to any form of abuse or exploitation.

One of the key roles of NCPCR is to redress grievances related to children. It receives complaints from individuals, NGOs, and other organizations regarding any violation of child rights. The commission investigates the complaints and takes necessary action to ensure that the rights of children are protected.

NCPCR has the power to issue orders to government agencies, public institutions, and private organizations to take appropriate action to address the grievances. It also has the authority to initiate legal proceedings in cases of violation of child rights.

NCPCR has set up a toll-free helpline number (1098) to enable people to report cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation. It also has a dedicated online portal for registering complaints related to child rights.

National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC)

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is a statutory body which was established under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The primary role of NCDRC is to redress the grievances of consumers and provide them with appropriate solutions for the issues they face.

The NCDRC acts as a quasi-judicial body and has the authority to adjudicate on consumer disputes that involve high-value claims. It has the power to hear appeals against the orders of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions and other Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions.

The NCDRC is responsible for protecting the rights of consumers and ensuring that they receive fair treatment from manufacturers, service providers, and other businesses. It provides a platform for consumers to file complaints against any unfair practices or deficiencies in the products and services they receive.

The NCDRC plays a crucial role in redressing grievances by providing consumers with a fair and efficient resolution of disputes. It ensures that consumers are adequately compensated for any losses suffered due to the negligence of businesses.

2nd ARC on Grievance Redressal Mechanisms

From the existence of a large number of external bodies which have been constituted for redressal of grievances, it is evident that the internal public grievance redressal mechanism has not functioned effectively. Internal public grievance mechanism needs to be much more effective and efficient both in terms of its reach and functions. Though elaborate guidelines have been issued by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, there has been inadequate compliance. 

The commission made following recommendations for a strong internal grievance redressal mechanism:

• The Union and State Governments should instruct all public authorities to appoint public grievance officers similar to the Public Information Officers outlined in the RTI Act. These officers should hold sufficient seniority and have appropriate authority assigned to them.
• All grievance complaints should be resolved satisfactorily by these officers within a period of thirty days. Failure to comply with this timeframe should result in financial penalties.
• Each organization should also designate an appellate authority and devolve adequate powers upon them including the power to impose fines on the defaulting officers.
• Government organizations ought to evaluate the complaints received and pinpoint areas where interventions are necessary to eliminate the root causes that lead to public grievances. This evaluation should occur regularly. 

India has a range of grievance redressal mechanisms that provide citizens with channels to report and address complaints against public authorities and officials. While these mechanisms vary in terms of their accessibility, effectiveness, and efficiency, they play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency in government administration. It is important for citizens to be aware of these mechanisms and make use of them to seek redressal for their grievances. Furthermore, there is a need for continuous monitoring and improvement of these mechanisms to ensure that they are responsive, efficient, and fair to all citizens.

With the increased use of social media, many of the ministries have launched their respective Twitter Sewa portals to address complaints of citizens. During the pandemic, such online portals of the ministries helped solve lakhs of public grievances within a time-bound manner. Various e-governance initiatives of the government such as MyGov.in , PRAGATI portal, etc have also proved to be effective tools to redress grievances faced by the public. Ministries and departments can monitor and evaluate the efficacy of GRM in real time using such digital platforms. Digital technologies have helped in bridging the gap of trust between the citizens and the government by effective and timely redressal of grievances faced by the public.