Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan on 25 June launched a QR code-based electronic petition (e-petition) system at his office in the State Secretariat, Chennai, enabling citizens to submit grievances digitally without paper-based forms. The initiative marks a notable shift in how the minister's office handles public complaints and appointment requests.

How the System Works

Visitors arriving at the minister's office can scan a QR code displayed outside the chamber, which redirects them to an online portal. On the portal, petitioners enter their personal details and upload digital copies of their documents. Those carrying physical papers can have them scanned and uploaded through the same interface, ensuring a single unified platform for both digital and paper submissions.

To improve accessibility, the portal also allows petitioners to briefly describe their grievance in text or upload a voice recording explaining their concern. Officials clarified that these features are optional and are intended to help applicants communicate more effectively.

Token-Based Visitor Management

Alongside the e-petition system, Minister Rajmohan has introduced a token-based visitor management system to regulate appointments during public grievance sessions. Visitors who complete online registration automatically receive a token number along with an appointment slot based on the minister's availability. The system is designed to reduce overcrowding and cut long waiting times outside the Secretariat. Instructions explaining the registration process have been displayed prominently outside the office.

Expected Impact on Grievance Redressal

According to officials, the new platform is expected to significantly reduce petition registration time while improving record management and enabling easier tracking of complaints. The digitised workflow is also intended to minimise paper use and strengthen administrative efficiency. Notably, Rajmohan — who holds the portfolios of School Education, Tamil Development, and Information and Publicity — is among the first ministers in the Tamil Nadu government to deploy a QR code-enabled grievance mechanism.

A Potential Model for Other Departments

Officials believe the initiative could serve as a replicable model for other state government departments seeking to modernise citizen services through digital governance. This comes amid a broader push across Indian states to digitise public-facing administrative functions and reduce the friction citizens face when accessing elected representatives. If adopted widely, the model could meaningfully cut the administrative backlog that plagues ministerial offices across Tamil Nadu.