Imposes ban on re-employment, extensions, & attachments in govt depts.
Reviews Kashmiri Migrant employee status, calls for improved governance
Pushes for integration of Raabta & JK Samadhan for unified grievance system
JAMMU, DEC 03: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat to review the functioning of the General Administration Department (GAD) and discuss various administrative matters.
The meeting focused on key areas such as the operations of the J&K Public Service Commission, J&K Service Selection Board promotions, cadre management, transfers, training programs, and other pertinent issues.
Emphasizing the need to address stagnation among J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, the Chief Minister directed the department to propose actionable solutions. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to grow,” he remarked, stressing the importance of fostering professional growth within the administration.
To streamline governance, the Chief Minister directed a complete ban on re-employment, extensions, additional charges, and attachments, except in extraordinary circumstances. He specifically called for a review of attachments in the Health & Medical Education and Education Departments, adding, “We must put an end to this practice.”
The Chief Minister also inquired about the status and performance of employees appointed under the PM Package for Kashmiri Migrants, seeking clarity on their progress and impact.
Earlier, Commissioner Secretary GAD, Sanjeev Verma, presented a detailed overview of the department’s functioning, covering areas such as administration, cabinet coordination, personnel management, and transfer policies. The discussions also touched on compassionate appointments under SRO-43, the J&K Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme-2022, and service-related matters for All India Services and J&K Administrative Services.
The meeting further focused on IT initiatives like SPARROW, JKHRMS, and officer training programs. The Chief Minister directed the department to examine the re-appropriation of posts following the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir and the creation of Ladakh Union Territory, noting discrepancies in the distribution of vacancies. “The distribution of posts following the reorganization must be looked into. We need to address disparities and ensure that Jammu and Kashmir has adequate posts to meet administrative demands,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Advisor to the CM, Nasir Aslam Wani; Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Dheeraj Gupta; Commissioner Secretary GAD, and other senior officials.
In a separate meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reviewed the establishment of Raabta – CM’s Public Services and Outreach Office, a single-window interface aimed at enhancing government-citizen interaction.
On improving grievance redressal systems through Raabta, the Chief Minister said, “Raabta will serve as a bridge between the government and the people, ensuring timely delivery of public services and enhancing public participation in governance.” He added, “It is a step towards a more responsive and citizen-centric administration.”
Secretary Grievances, Aijaz Asad, presented the framework for Raabta, emphasizing its role as a bridge between the government and citizens. He highlighted that the platform would enhance public participation, ensure a responsive government, and enable timely delivery of public services. Citizens will be able to submit grievances and suggestions through both offline and online modes.
The meeting also discussed the structure of the outreach office, including staffing requirements, deployment of senior officers, and the technical and administrative personnel needed to ensure efficient operations. The integration of JK Samadhan, an existing grievance redressal platform, with Raabta was also deliberated.
The Chief Minister directed officials to integrate Raabta with JK Samadhan to create a unified and comprehensive grievance redressal system. “By integrating Raabta with JK Samadhan, we are creating a unified grievance redressal system that will ensure faster resolutions and a more streamlined approach to addressing citizens’ concerns,” he noted.
BISAG’s Additional Director General informed the meeting that the integration process is underway and will soon be operational, benefiting the public at large.
The meeting was attended by the Advisor to the CM, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM, Principal Secretary IT, and other senior officials.
Expedite airport projects, expand chopper services: CM
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting today at the Civil Secretariat to assess the functioning and progress of the Civil Aviation Department. The meeting was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Secretary Civil Aviation Aijaz Asad, representatives from the Airports Authority of India, and the Directors of Srinagar and Jammu Airports.
Key areas discussed included the department’s aircraft fleet, revival plans, helicopter procurement, pilot training, and recruitment strategies. The Chief Minister also reviewed budgetary allocations and financial progress under the Capex and Revex budgets.
A significant focus was placed on the subsidized helicopter service, which has been operational since April 2017 under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The service currently connects five approved routes—three in Jammu and two in Kashmir. The Chief Minister directed officials to expand the service, particularly to remote areas, ensuring optimum utilization and sufficient passenger load for each flight.
Reaffirming his commitment to modernizing civil aviation infrastructure, Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of boosting connectivity to support the economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting also covered projects under the RCS-UDAN scheme. Presentations from the Directors of Jammu and Srinagar Airports provided updates on ongoing and proposed expansion plans for these critical facilities.
The Director of Jammu Airport presented details on the New Civil Enclave Project, which has a total cost of Rs 861.37 crore, with an approved budget of Rs 697.83 crore. The project is 16% physically complete, with 14% financial progress recorded as of November 30, 2024. The project will feature a centrally air-conditioned terminal with a peak-hour capacity of 2,000 passengers and an annual capacity of 4.5 million. It will also include essential infrastructure such as fire and water pump rooms, sewage treatment plants, and parking for 250 vehicles.
The Chief Minister stressed the urgency of expediting land acquisition processes, particularly for land currently occupied by the Animal Husbandry Department, to ensure the timely completion of the project by the Airports Authority of India.
Discussions also included challenges such as cost escalations affecting hangar and annex building projects. The Chief Minister encouraged actionable suggestions to address these issues and ensure efficient project delivery.
