SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 10(KNS): On the conclusion of the ‘Brashtachar Mukt J&K Week’ held first time in the UT between 4-9th September, Chief Secretary, DrArun Kumar Mehta reiterated that the fight against corruption is not a one-off event but a continuous process that needs to become integral part of our thinking and action.

He stated that the UT Administration does not believe in just symbolism but is committed to take this fight against the corruption to each and every household. He observed that the corrupt practices are beneficial to only few individuals who  amass illegitimate wealth but detrimental for the welfare of general public.

He said that the society as a whole can  progress only by defeating corruption in all its dimensions and forms. He emphasized that the task has to be accomplished collectively by working hand in hand with the administration. The Anti-Corruption bodies like ACB and Crime Branch have to play their due role. He highlighted  that it is for these reasons that the theme of the upcoming Vigilance Week  has been kept as ‘corruption free society for development of the nation’.

Referring to the recently concluded ‘Digital Week’, the Chief Secretary emphasized that the digital empowerment of public is contributing hugely to  reducing  corruption in the system. He said that the IT enabled features like e-tendering, BEAMS, Janbhagadari, geo-tagging, digital payments and physical verification have saved the government exchequer from being siphoned off by the vested interests to a large extent.

He encouraged people to make it their habit to apply for services online from their homes without visiting offices physically. He disclosed that there are around 1020 services onboarded on eUnnat portal and some 900 services on ‘Mobile Dost' application. He said that it is easy for everyone to apply for any citizen-centric service themselves just using their mobile phone devices.

He announced that soon the administration is going to roll out  the ‘Digi Dost’ scheme under which an IT person will visit homes of applicants with their devices and assist them in making requisite applications online on the nominal fee.

Dr Mehta added that J&K has truly undergone the ‘digital transformation’ in the last couple of years. He asserted that it has reduced  the gap between the far-flung areas and urban centers of the UT. He elucidated that it is for the first time that any Chief Secretary has virtually visited more than 50 remote panchayats and listened to the grievances of people directly.

He further went on to say that digital J&K is part of preparation for the future-ready J&K. He said that J&K is well on track to steer its way ahead for making the necessary progress and become a  role-model for others.

He also said that J&K is going to have single database for the whole UT which would greatly enhance the efficiency and availability of services to its citizens. He recalled that the auto-appeal feature of the online services is revolutionizing the service delivery as per the timelines set under the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA). He stated that more than 22000 cases had been auto-escalated and 800 officials had been fined for violating the timelines stipulated under the act.

Dr Mehta pointed out that while there is need to bring every complaint by the citizens to its logical conclusion,  it is equally important to protect the well-meaning officers who had acted in good faith with honesty and integrity. He remarked that any motivated and malafide complaint needs to be thoroughly investigated and the complainants taken to task as per law.

He called upon the Incharge Secretaries of each district to ensure that there is free discussion about ‘Brashtachar’ in their districts. He directed the ‘Prabhari Officers’ to make mention of the same in monthly panchayat convergence meetings in presence of people and Panchayat members  so that the fight against corruption reaches the grassroots level. He asked them to turn this into a mass movement of people as this would ensure that this menace is totally eradicated from our soil.

He stated that people need to be sensitized about the benefits of online services, e-tendering, Janbhagadari portal and other IT enabled systems. He mentioned that nearly all the persons he talked to has something good to share about this phenomenal change witnessed in the working of government offices. He called youth the agents of change and called upon all to focus on them to let them lives free from the vices of corruption.

While giving the overall assessment of this week long campaign the DCs and SSPs informed the meeting that people readily participated in the programme for all the days. It came to fore from their reports that around 15 lakh people have participated in nearly 46000  events held across the districts of the UT.

The details also entail that in Jammu district about 4.6 lakh people participated in some 8500 events. Similarly in Kathua 1.3 lakh people took part in 2024 events. Rajouri had a participation of more than 145000 people in about 3800 events, Kulgam 94000 people in 2177 events, Baramulla 93000 people in 1204 events, Bandipora 91000 people in 1425 events,Budgam 55000 in 4800 events, Shopian 45500 in 1700 events, Pulwama more than 100000 people in 1100 events,  Reasi 47000 people in 2100 events, Udhampur42500 people in 2025 events held across different government offices, Panchayats, Blocks, ULBs, Tehsils of these districts.

The Deputy Commissioners also gave insights about the nature and quantum of complaints received in each district. They made out that some 35000 complaints were received from public during this week. It was further apprised that most of the complaints were about the Revenue, Rural Development, Social Welfare, PDD and Jal Shakti Departments and many other beneficiary oriented schemes rolled out by the government from time to time.

They further revealed that nearly 90% of grievances were resolved during the week itself and the remaining are under process of resolution. They also expressed that people including PRIs, students, youth clubs, CSC operators and other citizens were sensitized about the use of online services besides the ways and means to register their complaints for making the ‘Brashtachar Mukt J&K’ a reality.(KNS).