CS Pushes for Simpler Govt Processes to Improve ‘Ease of Living’ in J&K

Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday stressed the need to accelerate simplification of government procedures to improve the ‘Ease of Living’ for citizens and strengthen transparent, technology-driven governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level meeting y Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reviewed implementation of the SimpleGov initiative with insights shared by former IAS officer P.W.C. Davidar regarding Tamil Nadu’s governance reform model. The discussion focused on enhancing Government-to-Citizen (G2C), Government-to-Business (G2B), and Government-to-Government (G2G) services by minimizing procedural delays and unnecessary compliance, while promoting digital verification methods such as e-KYC and DigiLocker. Dulloo noted that approximately 1,500 government services have already been digitized, laying a solid foundation for further administrative reforms. He proposed an exposure visit for Jammu & Kashmir officers to Chennai to learn from Tamil Nadu’s experience and suggested forming a multidisciplinary implementation team to ensure effective execution of the reforms. Davidar emphasized the need for a comprehensive simplification strategy that addresses systemic challenges, including excessive documentation and mandatory physical verifications, which hinder efficiency and service delivery. The roadmap for reform includes a thorough review of existing processes to transition towards citizen-centric governance, with a focus on end-to-end digitization. A multi-tier monitoring framework is being established to oversee the SimpleGov initiative, featuring a Screening Committee for initial reform proposals and an Empowered Committee led by the Chief Secretary for policy direction and progress monitoring. The meeting also highlighted the necessity of a legal framework to support the reforms, ensuring that simplified procedures are backed by relevant legislation. To enhance the simplification process, the meeting advocated for a standardized authentication mechanism for applicants and the online issuance of approvals with QR codes for verification. An omnibus order was proposed to unify the objectives and responsibilities across departments. Dulloo reiterated the administrative capability and political commitment of Jammu & Kashmir to implement these reforms effectively, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that includes expertise in technology and law. The Chief Secretary called for close coordination among departments to complete the identified reforms promptly, ensuring that the benefits of simplified governance are accessible to all citizens. Administrative Secretaries and senior officers reported on the progress made in simplifying departmental services, outlining both achievements and challenges, while identifying additional services for priority simplification.