Srinagar, June 23: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said that Jammu and Kashmir has significantly transformed public service delivery by expanding digital access to government services and strengthening grassroots governance mechanisms.
Speaking at the regional workshop titled “Seva Se Samriddhi – Panchayat-led Service Delivery”, Sinha noted that the Union Territory has secured a leading position in the country in the field of electronic service delivery.
He stated that the administration launched an ambitious initiative in 2020 to ensure that government services reach citizens efficiently and transparently. According to him, the number of services available online increased from only 35 in 2020 to over 1,100 within three years, helping J&K attain top rankings in digital governance.
Highlighting the role of local self-government institutions, the Lieutenant Governor said that major developmental changes have been achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the strengthening of the three-tier Panchayati Raj system. He emphasized that Panchayats have been empowered to play a central role in governance and decision-making.
Referring to programmes such as Back to Village and Block Diwas, Sinha said these initiatives have helped bring public services closer to people, address local infrastructure requirements, and incorporate grassroots feedback into policy formulation.
He added that the administration has focused on citizen-centric governance by encouraging public participation and accountability, which has helped strengthen trust between the government and the people.
The Lieutenant Governor invited delegates from Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand to study several innovative governance initiatives introduced in Jammu and Kashmir, including BEAMS-EMPOWERMENT, Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani, and Your Mobile–Our Office, which have improved service delivery and implementation of development programmes in rural areas.
He informed participants that more than 15,000 Common Service Centres are currently operational across Jammu and Kashmir. Out of 4,290 Panchayats, 4,211 have been connected to the CSC network, resulting in coverage of over 98 percent. The remaining Panchayats are located in remote and border regions where connectivity challenges still persist.
Calling for greater exchange of ideas and experiences among states and Union Territories, Sinha said successful governance models should be shared widely to improve last-mile delivery of services. He expressed confidence that innovative practices adopted in one region could inspire similar improvements elsewhere.
Describing the conference as a symbol of India’s diversity, cooperation, and commitment to public welfare, the Lieutenant Governor said these values are essential for building responsive and participatory local governance systems.
He stressed that future Panchayats should evolve into centres of innovation, sustainable development, equal opportunity, and public confidence rather than functioning solely as administrative units. He envisioned digitally empowered Panchayats where services are easily accessible, grievances are addressed promptly, collective decision-making is encouraged, and accountability remains integral to governance.
Sinha also shared a set of recommendations for strengthening Panchayat institutions across the country. He advocated the establishment of Village Innovation Labs in every Panchayat, regular capacity-building programmes for local representatives, adoption of participatory budgeting practices, promotion of environmental initiatives such as Green Jammu Kashmir, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, and Ek Ped Beti Ke Naam, and greater representation of women in leadership positions across government schemes.
