House passes Grants of IT, FCS&CA, ARI, Transport, YSS, S&T deptts
Jammu : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed the grants for key departments through voice vote, after daylong debate by the members in the House. The approved grants included Rs. 7,462.91 Lakh for Information Technology (IT), Rs. 54,389.17 Lakh for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Rs. 3,798.68 Lakh for ARI & Training, Rs. 12,646.11 Lakh for Transport, Rs. 68,009.76 Lakh for Youth Services & Sports (YSS) and Rs. 18,972.06 Lakh for Science & Technology (S&T) Department.
Winding up the discussions on the demands for grants Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Transport, Science & Technology Information Technology Youth Services & Sports ARI & Training, Satish Sharma lauded the legislators’ engagement and insights, speaking therein about future policy enhancements and project implementations. He emphasized the importance of collective improvement through dialogue and constructive criticism to enhance departmental efficiency. Sharma highlighted the role of the ARI & Trainings department in driving administrative reforms and fostering a citizen-centric governance model. Key initiatives include the launch of a single-window online portal for Recruitment Rules and an online NDC system, which have streamlined processes and improved transparency. The department aims to focus on capacity building, digitization, and re-engineering to enhance governance in the upcoming financial year. In the Food and Civil Supplies sector, Sharma noted that food security is a fundamental right, with Jammu and Kashmir leading in Public Distribution System reforms. The state has fully adopted the Government of India’s SMART PDS, improving efficiency and transparency in food distribution. Currently, 16.4 lakh households receive free food grains monthly, with ongoing efforts to address ration card bifurcation and enhance service delivery.
The Minister also discussed the integration of technology in governance, with the IT department playing a crucial role in digital transformation. Initiatives include expanding online government services and establishing IT Parks to support digital infrastructure. The upcoming financial year will see a focus on a future-ready digital governance model, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity through multilingual platforms. Additionally, the government is enhancing mobility services with online facilities for license corrections and the establishment of the Institute of Driving Training & Research in Jammu. These initiatives aim to modernize service delivery and improve vehicle safety through technology-driven inspections. Overall, the Minister’s address underscored a commitment to reform, efficiency, and citizen-centric governance across various departments.
