Srinagar: Emphasizing added efficiency and accountability in functioning of government offices, Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, today exhorted upon the officers to put in regular efforts towards enhancing public service delivery to ensure more responsive and transparent governance to people.
Chief Secretary stated this while chairing a high level meeting held here to assess progress on different sectors in Kashmir valley including district development plan and various other government programs for Srinagar district, an official communique issued here said.
It said the meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, PK Pole; IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar; Director SKIMS, Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Director General Social Welfare Kashmir, Director General Horticulture Kashmir, Commissioner SMC, Mission Director, NHM, MD KPDCL, VC LCMA, Principal GMC Srinagar, Directors of School Education Kashmir, Industries and Commerce Kashmir, Rural Development Kashmir, Tourism Kashmir, Fisheries, Urban Local Bodies, Agriculture Kashmir, Sheep Husbandry Kashmir and Animal Husbandry Kashmir besides Chief Engineers of all wings and HoDs of line departments.
Chief Secretary asked the officers to initiate proper IEC activities in each department so that maximum people are made aware about various services and beneficiary oriented schemes being LAUNCHED by the government. He also directed them to further improve and enhance the public service delivery system through use of technological interventions and innovations besides optimally utilizing available resources, said the communique.
It said that Dr. Mehta exhorted upon the concerned departments to take up major procedure simplifications under different schemes by doing away with unnecessary compliance burden and use of technological interventions to further streamline the service delivery.
While reviewing progress of health sector across Kashmir valley, Chief Secretary asked the Principal GMC, Director Health Services and Director SKIMS to properly maintain cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals which is imperative for patient care. He also directed them to prepare digital record of patient prescriptions and other medical tests through proper mobile applications or website so that a patient can access it while on the go, said the communique.
It further said that the Chief Secretary asked the Director to provide free medicines to locals at District Hospitals and initiate an awareness campaign for the same so that maximum people are made aware about this facility.
While reviewing tourism sector of Kashmir valley, Dr. Mehta asked the Director tourism to enhance facilities at tourist locations so that locals as well as the visitors from outside don’t face any inconvenience.
‘Apart from traditional tourist places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and others the unexplored locations should also be made available for public with proper facilities established there’, the communiquequoted the CS asking the officers.
Dr. Mehta asked the department to explore more ways of developing rural tourism in synergy with Mission Youth, J&K, so that the rural youth get self employment through ‘Home Stay’ programme recently initiated by the J&K government. He further directed them to start ‘One Activity a day’ in every tourist destination from March this year to give more recreational options for the tourists as well as locals visiting these places.
While assessing progress of Agriculture sector, Chief Secretary asked the officers to launch ‘Two Seasons-Two Crops’ campaign across the valley so that no area remains under single crop cultivation and maximum production of different varieties is obtained. He also asked them for 100% distribution of Soil Health cards so that people get aware about the productivity of their land and proper sowing of crops as per soil health, said the communique.
Chief Secretary, while reviewing progress of Rural Development Department, R&B, PMGSY, FCS&CA and other essential departments, asked the officers for effective implementation of all programmes and policies for transformation in development profile.
While highlighting present administration’s motto of ‘Road to Every Village’, CS asked the officers of PMGSY to ensure coverage of all habitations under their schemes, the communique said, adding, while assessing progress on district development plan and various other government schemes for district Srinagar, Chief Secretary impressed upon the officers to ensure completion of all ongoing works within prescribed timelines. He cautioned that no lackadaisical approach shall be entertained while executing these works.
He also directed the officers to streamline traffic management across the city besides properly using recently launched Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS) to deal with traffic. He directed the officers of district administration and traffic police to develop alternative routes for decongestion of traffic in and around the city.
Assessing progress on several beneficiary oriented schemes like KCC, PM Kisan, SEHAT, PM Social Security Scheme and others, Chief Secretary impressed upon the DC Srinagar to generate awareness among the public about these schemes so that maximum people take benefit. He also directed the DC Srinagar to ensure distribution of Tri-Lingual Land Pass Books among all eligible persons of Srinagar district by end of March this year, the communique said.
As per the communique, the CS said that the projects under Smart City Mission will add new attractions to Srinagar and increase tourist flux to the city. He directed the CEO Smart City to execute all the works as per given datelines so as to make Srinagar one of the most beautiful cities around the world.
The communiquefurther said that on the occasion, Chief Secretary launched one stop G2C e-services for district Srinagar. Under this platform, the citizens of Srinagar city can avail online facilities of obtaining income certificate, marriage certificate, character certificate, reserve category certificate and other services.
