By Farooq Ganai,
Jammu, Jan 13 (NAK): Young Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s slogan of “accountability” and “transparency” is gaining momentum and has started showing its effect on the minds of Heads of Departments and government employees who have to play major role in implementing the government’s agenda of free and fair administration.
The recent installation of Biometric Finger Scanner to record the attendance in government offices and barring HOD’s, field staff from entering civil secretariat with-out any reason are first two such steps which shows telling effect on the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir who expect a lot from the young lad CM.
To ensure that accountability in civil secretariat and other district offices on the directions of Chief Minister Government issued an order vide No O4 -GAD of 2OO9 dated 13-01-2009 which send shock waves to the officers/officials who were habitual of visiting Civil Secretariat twice or thrice a week just to wish their big bosses. The order issued reads as under
“Instructions have been issued from time to time enjoining upon all the District Officers and Divisional/ State level Heads of the Departments not to leave their headquarters without prior permission of District Development Commissioner/ Divisional Commissioner/Administrative Secretary concerned. These instructions are hereby reiterated for strict compliance”.
The order further reads “Hon’ble Chief Minister has further directed that in order to ensure accountability and timely response of the State Administration to the pressing needs of the people, the Heads of the Departments as well as other field officers shall concentrate on their work in their areas of operation/jurisdiction and shall visit the Secretariat only when they are specifically called for attending any official meeting convened by the Hon’ble Minister or the Administrative Secretary concerned. The Administrative Secretaries shall also put in place monitoring arrangements with a view to ensuring that the field officers are not seen roaming in the Civil Secretariat on any pretext without prior authority of the Head of the Department or the Administrative Secretary concerned. In case any such violation comes to the notice of the Administrative Secretary or the Government, disciplinary action shall be initiated against the concerned officer/official”.
Another government order issued by the GAD today vide Order No 71- GAD of 2009 Dated 14.01.2009 said that the administrative control of the civil Aviation, Estates and Hospitality and Protocol departments shall, henceforth remain with the CM Secretariat.
The order reads as under “It is hereby ordered that the administrative control of the Civil Aviation, Estates and Hospitality and Protocol Departments shall, henceforth, be with the Chief Minister’s Secretariat”.
This indicates that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is all set to eradicate the menace of corruption and misuse of official position from the administration.
“We believe that that young chief minister will succeed in making the administration accountable and getting back the decorum of government offices”, a scholar told News Agency of Kashmir, adding, Omar has big challenges ahead and both employees and public has to extend their support for making this dreams true.
Jammu and Kashmir has been in news every time either for scandals or militancy but this time all eyes are set on the NC led collation government and its chief minister who from the day one claimed that he will set the administration right and will keep unemployment and basic amenities on the top of his agenda.
“The youngsters of the state wishes Omar good-Luck in getting them employed and searching news employment avenues for them” Kousar Praveen an English post graduate told NAK adding first time we have heard that one do not need to attach any document while applying for combine services examination, this decision will ease the process.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah last night in his tele-conference with the British Foreign Secretary David Milib expressed his keen desire to work with UK for modernizing technical education system and skill development in Jammu and Kashmir in tune with the present and futuristic job market requirements across the globe.
“Tackling unemployment in the State is top on my top agenda” Omar told British Secretary on teleconference, adding that skill development would go a long way in enhancing employability among youth and creating avenues of employment.
“I love Omar’s pragmatic approach as he on the first day said that all what he will do will not spell out in form of propaganda but will show practically”, Sunil Koul a KP youth comments and said I see a ray of hope in Omar that he will leave no stone unturned in getting justice for the youth of the state.
He said if all goes well they will also get a chance of employment in MNC’s and government sector.
According to sources chief minister Omar Abdullah has directs General Administration Department to keep hawks eye on district level officers and civil secretariat officials so that they can not skip of their responsibilities which they owe as a public servant. (NAK)