Chief Secretary drives governance reforms to enhance Ease of Living in Jammu and Kashmir
SRINAGAR, July 16:- Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting attended by former IAS officer P.W.C. Davidar to deliberate on a comprehensive roadmap for simplifying government processes across all departments. The initiative aims to ensure a greater ease of living for citizens by creating a more efficient, transparent, and technology-driven governance framework.
The session focused on transforming service delivery across the government-to-citizen, government-to-business, and government-to-government sectors by eliminating procedural complexities, reducing unnecessary compliances, and removing requirements for physical document submissions and multiple repetitive clearances.Davidar, who serves as the advisor to the Tamil Nadu government on its SimpleGov initiative, shared the successful methodology adopted by his state in streamlining administrative procedures.
He highlighted key systemic challenges that require immediate attention, including mandatory physical verifications, excessive documentation, and a reluctance to integrate digital databases. The proposed reform framework in the union territory envisions shifting toward outcome-based governance supported by a multi-tier monitoring mechanism, including a screening committee and a chief secretary-led empowered committee to oversee uniform implementation.
Addressing the participants, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo noted that Jammu and Kashmir already possesses a strong foundation for this transformation, having digitized nearly 1,500 government services. To build on this progress, he proposed the formation of a multidisciplinary core team combining legal and IT expertise, alongside the issuance of a comprehensive omnibus order to mandate digital authentication tools like e-KYC, digital signatures, and DigiLocker.
To gain firsthand insight into best practices, the Chief Secretary also suggested that a team of local officers visit Chennai to study the Tamil Nadu model, emphasizing that all departments must coordinate closely to execute these citizen-friendly reforms within a strict timeframe.