Srinagar, Jun 23 (NVI): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant transformation in public service delivery and grassroots governance over the past few years, attributing the change to citizen-centric reforms and the strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions.
Addressing the regional workshop, “Seva Se Samriddhi – Panchayat-led Service Delivery”, organised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Sinha said the Union Territory had expanded online public services from 35 in 2020 to over 1,100 by 2023.
“We set out to build a Jammu and Kashmir where government reaches the citizen’s doorstep. With a ‘People First’ approach, public service delivery was transformed and Panchayati Raj institutions were empowered to play a greater role in governance,” he said.
The lieutenant governor said initiatives such as Block Diwas and Back to Village helped improve service delivery, strengthen local infrastructure and ensure greater citizen participation in governance.
Highlighting digital progress in the Union Territory,
Sinha said more than 15,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) are currently operational across Jammu and Kashmir, with over 98 per cent of panchayats connected to the network.
He said Jammu and Kashmir had recorded a sharp increase in digital transactions in recent years, reflecting growing public adoption of technology-enabled governance.
Calling for greater inter-state cooperation, Sinha urged delegates from several states attending the workshop to study successful service delivery models developed in Jammu and Kashmir and share best practices from their respective regions.
He stressed the need to strengthen grassroots institutions through innovation, capacity building, participatory budgeting, sustainable development initiatives and enhanced leadership roles for women.
“The panchayat of the future will not merely be an administrative unit but a centre of innovation, equal opportunity, sustainable development and public trust,” he said.
During the event, outstanding Gram Panchayats and Common Service Centres from participating states, including Jammu and Kashmir, were felicitated for their contributions to grassroots governance and public service delivery.
The workshop brought together policymakers, elected representatives, civil society members, rural technology experts and officials from various states to deliberate on strengthening Panchayat-led governance through digital transformation, citizen participation and innovation.(NVI)
