Digitisation in the working of the Government has not only changed the lives of the people but it has also improved the delivery of public services in Jammu & Kashmir like many states and union territories of the country. The inauguration of Mobil Dost App by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta is yet another step of the Jammu & Kashmir Government towards greater digital connectivity and the launch of this app would surely further the causes of the accessibility of people to key public services across Jammu & Kashmir. The launch of this app won’t just only reduce the gaps between the people and the Government but it would also make both the divisional and district administrations responsive to the grievances and demands of the people. Significantly more than 450 public services including certificates, licenses, permits, bill payments, travel and tourism facilities and important details about jobs and developmental initiatives would be accessible on Android mobile handsets through Mobile Dost App. Significantly iOS version of the app is also likely to be launched soon for easing the accessibility of people to basic public services. While digitisation has improved the delivery of some public services but still there are many public services which are yet to be digitised by the Government. It is also a fact that some of the public services like J&K Bank’s Mpay money transaction and J&K PDCL’s pre-paid power bill payment apps are not working well to the entire satisfaction of the people across Jammu & Kashmir. While the irrefutable fact is that people can now approach the top authorities and consequently the departments in a single click through this app with the grievances that remain unattended and unresolved for months and even years together, the responses of the authorities to the public demands and grievances still need to be checked and regulated through a system of checks and balances.
“Without a constant vigil over the working of mobile dost app this bigger technological initiative won’t reduce the gaps between the people and Government and improve the working of the key public services in Jammu & Kashmir. Undoubtedly Digitisation is good for changing the working of the Government departments as it eases the access of people to basic facilities but finally capacity to run the digital networks with greater efficacy and efficiency would change public perceptions about digitisation of public services in Jammu & Kashmir”.
Though the interest shown by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta in the digitisation of basic facilities shows his vision for people centric administration in Jammu & Kashmir, but the onus of making this bigger initiative of Chief Secretary a success lies on the departments which will be connected to the people through this Mobile Dost App. Without a constant vigil over the working of mobile dost app this bigger technological initiative won’t reduce the gaps between the people and Government and improve the working of the key public services in Jammu & Kashmir. Undoubtedly digitisation is good for changing the working of the Government departments as it eases the access of people to basic facilities but finally capacity to run the digital networks with greater efficacy and efficiency would change public perceptions about digitisation of public services in Jammu & Kashmir..
