Srinagar, June 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a transformative shift in governance and public service delivery over the past few years, driven by the strengthening of Panchayati Raj institutions and a citizen-centric approach to administration.
Addressing the “Seva Se Samriddhi – Panchayat-led Service Delivery” workshop organised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with the J&K Administration, Sinha highlighted what he described as historic changes brought about under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said the inclusive development model in Jammu and Kashmir was powered by the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, which ensured greater participation of people in governance and decision-making.
Recalling the government’s efforts since 2020, the Lieutenant Governor said the administration had set out to create a system where government services reached citizens at their doorstep.
“In 2020, we resolved to build a Jammu and Kashmir where governance is accessible to every citizen. With a ‘People First’ approach, we transformed public service delivery across sectors,” he said.
Sinha noted that the Union Territory expanded its digital governance framework significantly, increasing the number of online public services from just 35 in 2020 to over 1,100 by 2023. He said the achievement helped J&K secure the top position in national e-service delivery rankings.
The Lieutenant Governor said Panchayati Raj institutions were empowered to become key stakeholders in governance and development. He cited initiatives such as the “Block Diwas” and “Back to Village” programmes, which were aimed at strengthening grassroots governance, identifying local needs and ensuring timely delivery of public services.
“These initiatives ensured that infrastructure projects reflected local priorities and that policymaking was informed by feedback from the grassroots,” he said.
Sinha further said the administration placed citizens’ aspirations at the centre of governance and focused on enhancing accountability, transparency and public participation.
“By strengthening accountability mechanisms and encouraging citizen involvement, we have translated our commitment to multi-generational change into reality within a short span of time and rebuilt a strong relationship of trust between the government and the people,” he said.
