SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has directed officials to ensure the launch of the online Right to Information (RTI) portal in Jammu and Kashmir by December 10, emphasising the need for an end-to-end digital solution to enhance transparency and citizen engagement.
During a meeting with senior officials, including Principal Secretary (Finance and IT), Commissioner Secretary (GAD), and representatives from NIC, Dulloo reviewed the developmental progress of the portal. He called for integrating features like a payment gateway, email, and SMS alerts to streamline the process for applicants.
The Chief Secretary stressed the importance of onboarding all public authorities and training Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Appellate Authorities in using the portal to ensure swift grievance redressal as per RTI provisions. Additionally, he directed a security audit of the platform before its public launch.
Commissioner Secretary (GAD) Sanjeev Verma briefed the meeting on the portal’s current status, noting that it uses the software framework employed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India. Verma highlighted that some departments and Civil Secretariat nodal officers have already been onboarded, with ongoing efforts to bring approximately 3,300 PIOs and FAAs onto the platform.
NIC SIO, JS Modi, detailed the technical progress, revealing that 41 public authorities are already onboarded. Features like a payment gateway and SMS templates have been integrated, and the portal will go live following its official launch.
Beyond the RTI portal, the meeting also reviewed NIC’s plans to upgrade network connectivity across JK. Initiatives include establishing a Mini NOC in Srinagar, a Security Operations Centre in Jammu, and upgrading bandwidth to 1G in 10 district headquarters. The NIC also shared updates on ongoing projects like property rights cards for rural areas, an Evacuee Property Management Portal, and the Preventive Detention Information Management Portal (PDIMP) for police use.
Dulloo lauded NIC’s efforts and underscored the importance of these initiatives for enhancing governance and public service delivery in Jammu and Kashmir.
