Says from just 35 online services in 2020 to more than 1,100 by 2023, UT topped national e-service delivery rankings
Srinagar, Jun 23: Highlighting historic transformations under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule and the inclusive development revolution that was driven by the 3-tier Panchayati Raj system, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that public service delivery in Jammu and Kashmir stands revamped with a ‘People First’ approach.
Addressing the “Seva Se Samriddhi: Regional Workshop on Panchayat-Led Service Delivery” at SKICC here, the Lieutenant Governor said, “I believe Panchayat-led service delivery is one of the most important components of the governance system and a subject very close to my heart.”
The Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir lacked a fully functional three-tier Panchayati Raj system in the past, but significant efforts in recent years have empowered local bodies through the transfer of funds, functions and functionaries. “District plans were prepared jointly with elected representatives, and development priorities identified at the grassroots level were implemented accordingly,” he said, adding that locally-driven planning had enabled the execution of several impactful projects across villages.
Recalling the early days of his tenure, LG Sinha said governance in Jammu and Kashmir was heavily dependent on the physical movement of files under the Darbar Move system. “When I came to Jammu and Kashmir in 2020, I witnessed nearly 154 trucks transporting government files from Srinagar to Jammu. I was surprised that in the digital age, administration was still dependent on the physical movement of files,” he said. “The administration subsequently accelerated digitisation and shifted governance systems online, improving efficiency and transparency.”
He said, “In 2020, we set out to build a J&K where the government reaches the citizen’s doorstep. With a ‘People First’ approach, we revolutionized public service delivery. From just 35 online services in 2020 to more than 1,100 by 2023, UT topped the national e-service delivery rankings.
LG Sinha said, “We made Panchayati Raj institutions the strongest voice and largest participants in governance. Through ‘Block Diwas’ and ‘Back to Village’ campaigns, we tried to ensure services reach doorsteps, infrastructure meets local needs, and policies flow from the grassroots up. We put the common person’s aspirations at the core of administration. By ensuring accountability and citizen participation, we have translated a commitment to multi-generational change into reality within 3 years and rebuilt a powerful relationship of trust with citizens.”
The Lieutenant Governor urged the participants from Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to study the grassroots service delivery models of Jammu Kashmir including BEAMS-EMPOWERMENT, Aapki Zameen-Aapki Nigrani and “Your Mobile -Our Office” which had transformed service delivery and program implementation in villages. He highlighted the Government of India report which had observed that between 2016 and 2018 Jammu Kashmir recorded 20 million digital transactions over three years. In contrast, in the first six months of 2023 alone there were 50 Crore digital transactions – far exceeding many large states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala.
“More than 15,000 CSC (Common Service Centre) outlets are operational in Jammu Kashmir today. Of the 4,290 panchayats, 4,211 are connected to this network, representing an impressive 98.16 percent coverage. The remaining 79 panchayats are in very remote and border areas where connectivity remains a challenge.
