Two-day Regional Conference on ‘Replication of Good Governance Practices in Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh’ was inaugurated by the Minister of State, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy & Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in presence of Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of J&K Girish Chandra Murmu, here today.The Conference is organised by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India in collaboration with the Governments of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.Addressing the conference, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that over the years role of civil services has immensely changed from being just revenue collectors to the development officers. He stressed upon the need of maximum governance minimum government with transparency at every level. Deliberating about the significance of the conference, Dr. Singh said that it would provide a road map for effective development of two newly created UTs of J&K and Ladakh, adding that there is a need to expose J&K to the several opportunities as available to the other parts of the country.The Minister said that several governance and developmental models across India could be replicated in the new UTs while emphasising upon tapping the economic potential of J&K by setting up parks for Saffron, Bamboo and Pashmina etc.Speaking on the occasion, Lt Governor, GC Murmu said that the newly formed UTs of J&K and Ladakh have new opportunities under new mechanism and to reinvent the two UTs to meet new challenges. While calling ‘Back to Village’ programme as innovative and hallmark for development from the grass-root level, he said the programme's recommendations would be effective in framing policies which would eventually benefit common people at large.He added that the two-day seminar would help to give a platform for exchange of ideas, where various recommendations and suggestions will be subsequently considered for the implementation.
While calling peoples' participation as a prerequisite for the sustainable governance, he said that 73rd and 74th amendment must be implemented in letter and spirit.In a video message, R. K. Mathur, Lt. Governor, Ladakh said that it is very timely conference as the two UTs are embarking on a new path. He added that with the recommendations of this conference a new culture can be set to achieve the target of Minimum Government, Maximum Governance. He further said that the findings and suggestions of this conference will be very productive in the development of newly formed UTs.The Secretary DoPT and DARPG, Dr C Chandramouli while addressing the participants said that the purpose of this conference is to improve ease of doing business in the country. He added that we need to transform existing system by introducing new reforms while acting as a facilitator with maximum governance, minimum Government. He impressed upon the participants to gain the maximum from the conference so that the inputs would benefit the UTs of J&K and Ladakh.While speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam said that J&K has a lot of potential and this workshop can be a good beginning in that context to tap that potential. He added that the scope and definition of good governance has changed with changing times and from past one and half year ‘Good Governance’ has been the top priority of this dispensation.Earlier in his welcome address, Additional Secretary, DARPG, V Srinivas said that the Department while remaining extensively engaged with the J&K Govt two major regional conferences are being organised in Jammu by DARPG.Earlier in the day, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, while chairing the Pre-inaugural Session on the topic ‘Public Policy and Governance’ said that good governance has to be in the DNA of the administration while stressing that the delivery of effective governance is the main objective of government.
During the Pre-inaugural Session, presentations from several central government officials were delivered on different themes like ‘Digital Transformation in India’s Governance’, ‘Digital Governance: National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA)’ etc regarding Public Policy and governance.The Afternoon session was chaired by KD Vizo, Principal Secretary IT and Power, Government of Nagaland. During the session participants from various Central and States delivered their presentations on Digital Governance on themes like Government e-Marketplace (GeM), UMANG and e-Office.Similarly, presentations on Citizen centric Governance were delivered by participants on themes CPGRAMs 7.0, Grievance Redressel, Delivery in challenging law and order circumstances, Awaaz-e-Awam and CM’s Whatsapp Public Grievance redressel Mechanism. This presentation session was chaired by Bipul Pathak, Principal Secretary LG of J&K.In his presentation, CEO Mission Youth, J&K, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah delved upon the use of innovation and social media as a tool during the challenging law and order situations. He said that the use of social media among J&K youth should be encouraged, adding that robust public grievance redressal mechanism is a must for participatory governance.In the evening session, presentations by aspirational districts from the deputy commissioners of various States were delivered on the themes of Water Conservation through sub surface Dams, BDO and Panchayat Scorecard and Mission API-10. This session was chaired by Additional Secretary DARPG, V Srinivas.As part of the conference, several interactive sessions were held in every module to provide participants an opportunity to attain better understanding of various topics covered in the programme.The aim of the Conference is to bring national and state level agencies to exchange ideas and share experiences in Digital Governance, Citizen Centric Governance and Capacity Building and Personnel Administration etc. Delegates from 19 States and 4 Union Territories are participating in the Conference.