NEW DELHI: The days of operating in silos are ended, according to Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who on Thursday urged the officials of the Administrative Services of Jammu and Kasmir to take a “whole of government” stance. Speaking at the National Centre for Good Governance’s 6th Capacity Building Programme for J&K Administrative Services Officers in the nation’s capital, the Union Minister urged the officers to identify programmes that share commonalities and implement an integrated approach to execution for improved efficiency and results that will benefit the average person.Singh noted that the democratisation of resources and the introduction of technology, even in remote and rural areas, have changed the demographics of the state and central civil services. As a result, he claimed, more and more top performers in the central civil services come from states like Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. According to Singh, the present goals of Indian public policy are to improve accountability and openness in government, with a particular emphasis on fiscal federalism, rural development, and public service delivery excellence. “India has made improvements to its grievance redressal systems to make them more contemporary and has made an effort to strengthen its institutions and streamline administrative procedures in order to allay any residual feelings of injustice resulting from administrative actions. The minister stated, “To this end, digital advancement has made it possible for citizens to file grievances.” Singh has pledged to introduce a call centre strategy in Jammu and Kashmir, which is presently in use at the Centre, in order to directly determine the degree of satisfaction of the individuals who have had their issues resolved. The minister discussed the Digital India plan, stating that it is focused on three main vision areas: digital infrastructure as a basic service provided to all residents, on-demand government and services, and citizen empowerment through digital means.According to him, the ultimate objective is to make sure that digital technologies enhance the quality of life for each and every Indian, grow the digital economy in India, and generate investment and job opportunities while utilising the nation’s untapped technological and digital potential. According to the minister, Digital India has significantly narrowed the distance between the public and the government and has made it easier to provide significant services to recipients in an open, honest, and corruption-free manner. “In the process, India has emerged as one of the pre-eminent nations of the world to use technology to transform the lives of its citizens,” Singh stated.He maintained that the Centre has maintained a “zero tolerance approach to corruption,” bringing greater transparency to government processes, enhanced supervision, and severe penalties in cases of proven misconduct. He said that the new age competency of civil servants has to be anchored in ethics and accountability. “India’s Legislative and Constitutional Framework to fight corruption has been greatly strengthened with a mandatory declaration of assets by civil servants on an annual basis, thereby focusing on preventive vigilance,” said the minister. At the event, V Srinivas, secretary of the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), stated that the training serves as a forum for group learning and sharing with the goal of raising people’s standard of living. In addition, he underscored the necessity of inclusive, rapid development for resilient growth and the significance of technology in improving residents’ quality of life. According to Srinivas, the officials had to construct a conceptual framework to address the demands and aspirations of the populace and strive towards the state’s overall growth. At NCGG, the sixth capacity building programme began on October 9 and will end on October 20. Thirty-seven JKAS officers—including CEOs, directors, joint commissioners, secretaries, special secretaries, additional secretaries, and mission directors—are in attendance at the event.Ayushman Bharat, digital India, skill India, artificial intelligence in government, poverty eradication, rural housing, Jal Jeevan Mission, digital India, anti-corruption strategies, vigilance administration, circular economy, revitalization of rivers, innovation & entrepreneurship, etc. are just a few of the important topics that civil servants in Jammu & Kashmir discussed with domain experts during this programme. The participants will visit the Parliament for an exposure tour as well. The capacity building plan is scientifically designed to provide Jammu and Kashmiri civil personnel with the tools they need to provide reliable and effective services to the public.
