Director of Communications Altun: "In 2021, our satisfaction rate increased by 20 per cent compared to the previous year. In 2022, we will increase our citizens' satisfaction even more, and we will keep the management processes running effectively."
In 2021, 6.1 million people sent applications to the Presidency's Communication Centre (CİMER), where citizens can express their opinions, requests, complaints, suggestions, and appreciation regarding the government's activities as well as the actions and processes of the public administration.
CİMER, which is regarded as a pioneer among electronic application admission and information access systems, has also expanded people's opportunities to engage in administration as a result of the understanding it has adopted and the technical infrastructure it has around the world.
6.1 million people sent applications to CİMER, which allows citizens to quickly and easily submit requests, suggestions, and complaints to the administration, a 4 per cent increase from the previous year of 2020.
In 2021, CİMER responded to 5.5 million applications, with a duty to provide a positive or negative definite reply or an interim reply regarding the process carried out within 30 days, depending on the subject of the application. Approximately 600,000 CİMER applications were "thank you" messages.
Following the transition to the Presidential Government System, the application categories "Join the Administration," "Green Development Initiative," and "Acknowledgement" were added to CİMER, which previously featured application options such as requests, complaints, information, notice, and opinion/suggestion.
The applications made to the Directorate consisted of requests by 45 per cent, complaints by 40 per cent, the right to information by 8 per cent, and acknowledgements, opinions/suggestions, and "Join the Administration" by 7 per cent. The central organisation received 55 per cent of the applications, while local administrations received 45 per cent.
Although it varies depending on the province, the time frame, the applicants' education, age, and gender, the majority of applications received on a yearly basis were in general for the financial opportunities and exemptions made available to citizens due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many applications for internet service were received during this period, coinciding with an increase in demand.
Demands for dormitories, hostels, school canteens, lowering the tax rate on cat-dog food, learning the exact time of birth, and test preparation books took centre stage in the applications submitted by the youth.
90,000 young people applied to CİMER to determine their exact birth date, and 10,000 young people applied to have the tax rates on cat and dog food reduced. On the other hand, following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's remarks about stray animals, the CİMER application category "stray animals" was created. It's worth noting that this topic piqued the interest of many people, particularly young people and women.
Hatay, Gaziantep and Ankara were the provinces with the most applications
Because of the widespread use of the internet and smartphones in society, 97 per cent of applications to CİMER were received online. This rate was 92 per cent five years ago.
The population between the ages of 25 and 45 made the largest number of applications to CİMER. Hatay, Gaziantep, and Ankara were the provinces with the most applications, relative to the population. The districts with the highest number of applications were Gaziantep's Şahinbey, Ankara's Keçiören and Çankaya, and Adana's Seyhan.
Numerous congratulatory messages received
While approximately 2,500 people participate in the CİMER satisfaction survey on a daily basis, a 20 per cent increase in CİMER's satisfaction score has been achieved since October, with the speed of response to applications increasing and satisfactory answers being provided.
Furthermore, CİMER received numerous congratulatory messages following innovations in the domestic and national defence industries, the domestic vehicle TOGG, the opening of Hagia Sophia to worship, and the discovery of natural gas reserves in the Black Sea.
We aim to further increase citizen satisfaction in 2022
Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun stated that they see CİMER as a strong communication bridge between the state and the nation, citing public relations as one of the Directorate of Communications' most important functions.
Stating that they have further strengthened CİMER after it was affiliated to the Directorate of Communications, Director of Communications Altun said that they have claimed all their powers and capabilities and said:
"Today, CİMER is one of the world's most commendable examples of participatory democracy. It has evolved into a communication platform that is easily accessible to people of all ages and walks of life, from our children to our youth, from the elderly to the disabled. We have already taken some significant steps at this juncture. We made a concerted effort to raise the level of satisfaction as the most important factor. By satisfaction level, we do not mean ensuring that every application submitted to CİMER is approved, but rather that every application is routed to the correct address and reaches its intended recipient as soon as possible from that address. Thankfully, at this point, the return rate has reached up to 90 per cent. In 2021, our satisfaction rate increased by 20 per cent compared to the previous year. In 2022, we will increase our citizens' satisfaction even more, and we will keep the management processes running effectively."
Director of Communications Altun added that they were pleased with the interest received in a short time for the "Join the Administration" application, which was initiated in order to receive citizen contributions on new policy proposals and current policies, emphasising that they always keep the demands and suggestions of the people at the forefront.