Chennai/New Delhi: BJP’s Coimbatore South legislator Vanathi Srinivasan has become the first MLA from Tamil Nadu to get an ISO certification for her office, thereby joining the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Surat MP C.R.Patil among others.
Other lawmakers to get the ISO 9001:2015 certification include AAP’s Timarpur MLA Dilip Pandey.
“ISO 9001 is a globally recognised standard for quality management. It helps organizations of all sizes and sectors to improve their performance, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality. Its requirements define how to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system,” International Organization for Standardization (ISO) says in its website.
With 12 departments in her office, an active WhatsApp number to address people’s concerns, a codified recording system of the petitions, response mechanism, and active online engagement, the Vanathi’s MLA office meets the parameters required for the ISO certification.
The parameters were assessed by a Quality Research Organisation (QRO) following which Vanathi put up a tweet Tuesday.
Delighted to share that my MLA office, Coimbatore South has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Member of the Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu to receive ISO 9001: 2015 certification.
This accomplishment underscores our unwavering dedication to public… pic.twitter.com/KQoaFccfrW
— Vanathi Srinivasan (@VanathiBJP) February 20, 2024
Later, the BJP MLA told ThePrint that the recognition has to be seen “as a process reflecting the quality service given to the people of the constituency.” She also asserted that when more legislators get certified, it would create more trust and confidence among the public.
In her letter announcing her office’s achievement, Vanathi had written: “The ISO certification recognizes our distinguished quality management system across various aspects of legislative duties, constituency representation, policy influence, community engagement, development initiatives, oversight, and fund allocation.”
“It reflects not only our tireless commitment to excellence but also the dedication of my entire team. Together, we strive to deliver high-quality services that cater to the needs of our constituents.”
The inspiration comes from PM Narendra Modi, she said, noting that when PM Modi was the Gujarat CM, his office also obtained ISO 2001:2015 certification in 2011.
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Three months of streamlining
After she thought about getting the certification, Vanathi told ThePrint that she got in touch with a few friends in Coimbatore who had got it for their companies. These friends helped her connect with ISO certifying officials, she added.
The three-month journey to get the certification began with an informal session with the authorisation officials and all the office staff of MLA’s office. It was a learning process, Vanathi said, adding that while most of the requirements for the ISO certification were already in her office, the officials helped her office get into a more codified manner.
“The petitions were kept in separate files, the response mechanism was effectively put into place and recorded, and a WhatsApp number was given to the public to connect with us. All immediate solutions, and community engagements were recorded. Online engagement is monitored,” Vanathi said.
After three months of streamlining all the 12 departments and recording their activities as per the requirements, the Coimbatore South MLA’s office applied for the ISO certification. This was followed by three rounds of inspection at the end of which her office was awarded the certification on 9 February.
The certification was given for the scope of activities which included, “providing public service of legislative duties, constituency representation, policy influence, community engagement, development initiative, oversight and fund allocation.”
The BJP MLA’s office will be audited annually by the quality research organisation (QRO) annually for the next three years, i.e. the period of certification till 2027, .
‘Want to be a role model’
Even after 30 years in public life, Vanathi told ThePrint, there are times when she sees public doubting if women MPs, MLAs, or councillors can do their jobs well.
“There are times when a councillor’s husband is approached by local residents to address their grievances,” Vanathi said, adding that her aim by this certification is to be a role model. “I want to show to the people that as a woman MLA, we can effectively handle both MLA duties and family.”
Vanathi stated that she does regular physical and online meetings with the people of her constituency to discuss on how the MLA funds needs to be allocated, adding that the ISO certification enhances the effectiveness and accountability that she and her office have displayed.
Noting that there is a general perception that the elected representatives become unapproachable post elections, the BJP MLA said that she was keen on changing this view.
At her Coimbatore South office, she said, anyone can walk in from 10 am to 5 pm everyday to bring their petitions. “Irrespective of whether I am there or not, different teams have been set up to deal with the petitions. And when I am present, there are some days when people come to meet even till 10 pm.”
Vanathi said that the challenge that she faces in her constituency at times is the lack of understanding of the people on the duties that fall under the scope of a councilor, an MLA, or an MP. “Irrespective of the scope under whom the request falls, I ask my office to try to address the grievance,” she added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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