JAMMU, JAN 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal at the Civil Secretariat, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar, along with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries, and senior officers.
In his address, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah congratulated the officers involved in developing the portal, highlighting its potential to transform the RTI application process for citizens. He stated, “This initiative will provide easy access to government information under the RTI Act, empowering citizens with a faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient mechanism.”
The Chief Minister also urged the concerned authorities to ensure widespread publicity of the initiative so that citizens across Jammu & Kashmir become fully aware of its benefits.
Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Jammu and Kashmir, the portal shifts the RTI application process from manual to online submissions. This transition allows citizens to submit RTI requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices.
Earlier, M. Raju, Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), delivered a presentation on the portal’s features, emphasizing its accessibility, convenience, speed of processing, cost efficiency, and role in promoting accountability. He outlined key functionalities of the portal, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined RTI workflow, and robust documentation features.
A unique aspect of the portal is the issuance of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email, allowing easy tracking of RTI applications.
The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and keeping citizens informed about government activities.
