In a historic achievement, Jammu and Kashmir have become the first state in the country to incorporate 1100 services on the eUnnat portal and integrate 500 services on the Rapid Assessment System (RAS) portal. Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta applauded the pivotal role of the IT Department in this milestone, highlighting the significant impact on governance.
Dr. Mehta expressed that these accomplishments are unparalleled, transforming the governance system in the Union Territory. The addition of 15 more services to the eUnnat portal, bringing the total to 1102 online services, is a testament to the commitment of ‘Team J&K.’ He emphasized the empowering nature of transferring power to the people through IT tools, making public offices easily accessible.
Reflecting on the remarkable progress, Dr. Mehta acknowledged the widespread praise from the public for the relief provided by online services. He emphasized the removal of distance barriers, stating that IT tools have eradicated the notion of remoteness from the lexicon, and staying connected is the new mantra.
In the meeting, the Chief Secretary also reviewed advancements in the ‘One UT One Database’ initiative and ‘Byakti Pehchan’ for proactive governance. He assessed the steps required for launching the initiative to deliver government services without the need for submitting multiple documents. Dr. Mehta instructed the integration of existing databases, including Aadhar, Ration Cards, Gold Cards, Land passbooks, pensions, and more, to form a unified database. He emphasized that by linking databases, a comprehensive database can be established in a few months.
Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta congratulated the winners of the UT Foundation Day competitions, commending their exceptional efforts. He encouraged them to leverage these awards as stepping stones to achieve higher goals and pursue their dreams passionately.
Commissioner Secretary, IT, Prerna Puri, informed the gathering that besides certificates, the first three winners in each category would receive cash prizes of Rs.10,000, Rs.8,000, and Rs.5,000. The shortlisting was based on merit and originality, with over 6,000 photos received for the Photography competition. The Hackathon Challenge on cybersecurity was won by Subhag Sharma, a student of Computer Engineering at SMVDU, who was awarded Rs.25,000.
The ceremony, attended by winners and their parents, either in person or virtually through video conferencing, marked a significant moment in the technological advancement and proactive governance of Jammu and Kashmir.