Governance can be defined as the process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented. Governance can be positive and negative. Good governance day is celebrated every year on 25 December across India. The main aim is to enhance transparency and accountability in the government. Good governance means that there is always value-based government and value based government makes public administration more open, transparent and accountable. The government of India is always committed to ensure good governance. It takes into consideration all the principles that include participation, transparency, accountability, rule of law, responsiveness, consensus oriented, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness and efficiency. For the past many years, important initiatives have been taken by the J & K government for ensuring good governance in all parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Good governance enables the public servants to deliver public services and benefits to the people in a transparent manner. There is no delay in public services and everyone enjoys public services in a corruption free environment. Good governance provides equal opportunities to all people irrespective of caste, creed, color, sex religion, region etc. The Jammu and Kashmir government is committed to achieve the goals of promoting efficiency, accountability, and probity in public life for a better future. Adoption of a zero tolerance policy against corruption, nepotism, favoritism and discrimination by the J & K government is an appreciable and remarkable step. The demand for corruption that was once prevalent in almost all offices for providing public services was eliminated. The corruption that impedes the growth and undermines moral fibre of the society is almost nowhere. Officials indulging in corrupt practices in Jammu and Kashmir are given deterrent punishments under laws of the land. The Jammu and Kashmir government has spread and strengthened its wings through ACB against all corrupt officials. The Jammu and & Kashmir government is now moving towards Bhrashtachar Mukt J & K as corruption free J & K is the vision as well as mission of the administration. The Jammu and Kashmir government has launched many initiatives particularly back to the village and my town, my pride aiming at strengthening the grassroots of democracy, empowering panchayats and people. These initiatives involve direct participation of people with the government for presenting their genuine demands and concerns’ in the interest of the public. In the back to village program, voices of all sections of society like men, women, vulnerable sections of society, backward classes, minorities’ are heard and given equal importance and recognition. Back to village program initiative fosters transparency and accountability in governance by engaging people in decision-making, development process and implementation. The Jammu and Kashmir government is also committed to make the state Nasha Mukt J & K. Drug peddlers who are worst enemies of the state are booked under NDPS Act, 1985 and even their property are being attached by the concerned authorities’. Keeping the J & K youth away from all kinds of drugs, the government has been conducting drug de-addiction awareness programs, organizing various sports activities and distributing sports kits to the youth. Different skill trainings are being provided to the unemployed youth under various schemes in order to make them skilled and employable in all kinds of markets for their better and brighter future and the prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir. Technological interventions over the past many years like DBT, PAY-SYS, BEAMS, CPGRAMS, e-tendering, e office are great achievements of the government. The online facility of grievance redressal portal where grievances’ of people are resolved in a shortest period. Another remarkable initiative is LGs’ Mulaqat program in which people communicate directly with Lieutenant Governor for redressal of their grievances’. Development of basic infrastructures like roads, bridges, hospitals, filtration plants, sewage treatment plants and speedy execution of developmental works and projects is felt by everyone in J & K.
“Good governance is one of the important factors in eradicating poverty and promoting development across the state through transparent, accountable, equitable, inclusive and responsive government. There is further need to strengthen the good governance in J&K that is pro people and proactive governance. Creating a transparent system, efficient process and smooth governance will definitely make development all round and all-inclusive in Jammu and Kashmir. We hope that the government will further accelerate the pace of good governance and achieve all its good goals for the welfare of all people and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir”.
The pace of development has never been witnessed in the past here. It is clearly witnessing transparent, responsible, responsive and accountable governance in Jammu and Kashmir. Every section of society is getting benefits of many beneficiary schemes of the government in all sectors like health, agriculture, horticulture, sheep and animal husbandry etc. without any discrimination. The accountable and responsive government always aims to ensure social security net for all, better living standard to every citizen, progress, prosperity and quality life for all. People centric schemes in the health sector particularly Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) Sehat Scheme has been providing relief to lakhs of poor patients. Under this scheme, poor patients get health insurance cover of Rs five lakh per family per year at empanelled hospitals. Adoption of e-office culture by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in offices has established transparent paperless working culture. It has eliminated the delay of files that earlier took a very long time. Development of smart schools, colleges and universities and modernization of school infrastructure like creation of ICT facilities has taken the education sector towards much higher efficiency and accountability. Development of all kinds of facilities in schools has been bringing out the best talents that are contributing significantly to the country in all sectors. Good governance never compromises wrongs and for retrieval of encroached land from encroachers, anti-encroachment drives have started by the government that retrieved thousands of kanals of government land. It is pertinent to mention that many water bodies, wetlands, rivers, streams and canals in Jammu and Kashmir have been encroached by encroachers and more anti encroachment drives need to be started on war footing basis for retrieval of encroached land for the welfare of the environment and people. Launching of online JK Attendance App and installation of Biometric attendance system (Finger Print Based) have not only improved the work culture in offices of school education and other departments but have also increased the punctuality in all offices for the interest of all stakeholders. Agriculture and horticulture sectors are key drivers of economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has undertaken several projects to uplift and boost agriculture and horticulture sectors. It has been providing all kinds of support to the farmers’ like financial, material, technology, market, cold storage etc. For the last many years’, both the sectors touched new heights in terms of production and profit. Good governance is one of the important factors in eradicating poverty and promoting development across the state through transparent, accountable, equitable, inclusive and responsive government. There is further need to strengthen the good governance in J&K that is pro people and proactive governance. Creating a transparent system, efficient process and smooth governance will definitely make development all round and all-inclusive in Jammu and Kashmir. We hope that the government will further accelerate the pace of good governance and achieve all its good goals for the welfare of all people and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerah Budgam. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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