Overhaul governance to make it transparent: Mufti to DCs, SPs

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today urged the civil and police administration in Jammu and Kashmir to overhaul the governance system to make it transparent and people-friendly and stressed on the importance of greater synergy between them.
Chairing a high-level meeting of senior civil and police officers, Sayeed was briefed on the status of delivery of important public services, development, security and law and order by the Divisional Administration (Jammu).
He reviewed the measures taken by the administration on good governance, strict vigilance on the borders, efficient utilization of centrally-sponsored schemes and commitment to social sectors like health and education.

The Chief Minister was briefed about the security and development scenario by DGP K Rajendra and Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Dr Pawan Kotwal respectively, followed by briefings by the Deputy Commissioners and the District Superintendents of Police.
Laying stress upon the need to bring in greater synergy between the civil and police administration to make the system fair and accountable, Sayeed described the districts as basic units of micro-governance that should work in complete harmony for bringing in a discernible change on the ground.
"The system needs to be revamped to make it corruption- free and transparent. People need good roads, regular power and water-supply and prompt resolution of their day-to-day problems," he said, while stressing upon the need to establish a single window system at the district-level to provide hassle-free public services.

Underscoring the urgent need to build infrastructure in housing and urban sectors by implementing schemes for development of small and medium towns, the Chief Minister said the elections to municipal bodies will be held soon so that funds withheld by the Centre are received without any further delay.

Asking the administration to expedite issues of land acquisition for laying new infrastructure in the districts under various schemes, the Chief Minister stressed upon identification of state land for establishing newly-sanctioned medical and model degree colleges in the State by the Union Ministries of Health & Family Welfare & MHRD.
"We will lay focus on introducing new job-driven courses in our degree colleges and strengthen the institutions of social welfare," he said while calling for proper utilisation of funds under Border Area Development Programme.

Referring to the appointment of doctors and teachers, the Chief Minister said the district cadre is being further strengthened to address the issue of understaffing in health and education sectors.
He asked the Chief Secretary to monitor the policy so that the issue of understaffing in various districts is addressed on priority.
Sayeed also issued instructions to the Divisional Administration to complete assessment of damage afflicted to standing crops by untimely rains and hailstorms in the Jammu division and assured that the farmers will be adequately compensated.