LG Sinha Showcases J&K’s Panchayat-Led Governance Model, Calls for Stronger Grassroots Service Delivery Across India
Srinagar, June 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s transformation in public service delivery and grassroots governance, asserting that the Union Territory has emerged as a national model for citizen-centric administration through empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions and digital governance initiatives.
Addressing the "Seva Se Samriddhi – Panchayat-led Service Delivery" Regional Workshop, jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, the Lieutenant Governor said the reforms undertaken since 2020 have fundamentally reshaped governance by bringing government services closer to the people.
Highlighting the role of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system in driving inclusive development, Sinha said the administration adopted a "People First" approach that transformed service delivery across the Union Territory. He noted that the number of online public services increased from just 35 in 2020 to over 1,100 by 2023, enabling Jammu and Kashmir to secure the top position in the national e-service delivery rankings.
The Lieutenant Governor said Panchayati Raj Institutions have been strengthened to become key stakeholders in governance, while flagship outreach initiatives such as Block Diwas and Back to Village ensured that essential services, infrastructure development, and policy implementation reflected the needs and aspirations of local communities.
He said the administration placed citizens' aspirations at the centre of governance by promoting accountability, transparency, and public participation, resulting in a renewed relationship of trust between the government and the people.
Calling upon delegates from Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to study Jammu and Kashmir's successful grassroots governance initiatives, Sinha highlighted programmes such as BEAMS-EMPOWERMENT, Aapki Zameen-Aapki Nigrani, and Your Mobile–Our Office, describing them as transformative models for rural service delivery.
Referring to the rapid expansion of digital governance, the Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir recorded nearly 20 million digital transactions between 2016 and 2018, while the first six months of 2023 alone witnessed over 50 crore digital transactions, surpassing several larger states. He added that more than 15,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) are currently operational across the Union Territory, covering 4,211 of its 4,290 panchayats, representing over 98 per cent connectivity.
Emphasising the importance of collaborative governance, Sinha stressed the need for greater inter-state knowledge sharing to replicate successful models of rural administration and improve last-mile service delivery across the country.
Describing the workshop as a reflection of India's unity, cooperative federalism, and commitment to public service, he said future panchayats should evolve into centres of innovation, digital governance, sustainable development, equal opportunity, and public trust.
The Lieutenant Governor also proposed five key recommendations for strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions nationwide, including establishing Village Innovation Labs, modern capacity-building programmes for elected representatives, participatory budgeting, adoption of sustainable development initiatives, and expanding women's leadership in governance and community development.
During the workshop, Panditpora Gram Panchayat in Kupwara and Syed Waris Hafiz, a Common Service Centre Village Level Entrepreneur from Budgam, were felicitated alongside outstanding Gram Panchayats and CSCs from participating states for excellence in grassroots service delivery.
Organised in collaboration with the Common Service Centres Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC-SPV), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Jammu and Kashmir, the workshop focused on strengthening Panchayat-led governance through digital transformation, innovation, citizen participation, and improved accessibility of public services.
The event brought together representatives from civil society organisations, academic and research institutions, rural technology organisations, elected Panchayat representatives, Village Level Entrepreneurs, and senior officials. Technical sessions and panel discussions facilitated inter-state exchange of best practices and explored scalable governance models aimed at improving rural service delivery across the country. ANB
