IMPA Organizes Training program for Representatives of Urban Local Bodies

IMPA Organizes Training program for Representatives of Urban Local Bodies

26/12/2018: In continuation of its series of training programs for newly elected members of urban local bodies, Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administeation,JKIMPA supported by department of housing and urban development  conducted training program including over 50 elected members  of municipal committees and councils of border areas like, Journian, Akhnoor, Khour, Ghoumanhasa and Kalakote.

The content and course material of the training programs is being conceptualise  by Prof Reva Sharma, Director Trainings JKIMPA, Jammu and conducted under her guidance. 

The objective of the training is to impart skills and enhancing knowledge of these elected members to enable them to discharge their duties  and  responsibilities  leading to the effective functioning   of   these basic democratic units.

During the three days training from 24 to 26 Dec, In house subject experts and faculty members including Dr Neena Bhalla, Associate Professor, Manju Kapoor,  Dr Ruchi Gupta and Guest faculty including  Hari Har Dutt, a former senior officer of planning department, Zafar Iqbal, State Nodal Officer for solid and liquid waste management, Raman Sharma Journalist and RTI Practitioner and RK Gupta Administrative officer(Rtd), Urban Local bodies.

On the concluding day, the participating elected representatives were also awarded certificates  by  Prof Reva Sharma, Director Training, Jammu(JKIMPA).

Activists Welcome Landmark Legislations by SAC

Jammu, 15/Dec/2018;  Civil rights activists from Jammu including legal professionals welcomed the recent landmark legislations enacted by the State Administrative Council headed by governor Satypal Malik including amendment in the Ranbir Penal Code whereby specific offences under section 354 E is being inserted to provide for the offence of ‘Sextortion’ and also to enact legislation for establishment of first ever Real Estate Regulatory Authority in the state and to amend the  Transplantation of Human organ law. 

In  a joint statement RTI activist including Raman Sharma, Deepak Sharma,  Dewaker Sharma and Hunar Gupta advocates of the J and K High Court, Balvinder Singh­ of Sangarsh RTI Movement, Munish Sharma and Harasis Singh of Save My Tawi Campaign congratulated the governor  and his advisors for the recent chain of bold decisions taken in State Administrative Council. They said that amendment in the RPC to include sextortion makes the Jammu and Kashmir as the 1^ststate to have this pro women special bylaw. The activists also lauded the governor for repealing the Roshni scheme that was virtually being used as a license to legalise the grabbed government land by the mafias under the patronage of very senior political functionaries of different parties and that caused loss of billions of rupees to the state exchequer.

MHA Cuts Corners for BADP Funding as J & K govt fails to submit Utilization Certificates

MHA Curtails BADP Funding as J & K govt fails to submit Utilization Certificates on Time

Jammu, 10/12/2018; Call it callousness of the concerned  officers of the Jammu and Kashmir government or the misfortune of the people living in borders areas of the state but the fact is that these people who brave the  bullets are always deprived of their legitimate rights.

In a shocking revelation made under RTI Act it has come to fore that J & K government has failed to submit utilization certificates under Border Area Development Program, BAPD amounting rupees 83.64 Crores to the union ministry of home  affairs that has compelled the union government to curtail the subsequent funding under BAPD.

The information received under RTI Act by Raman Sharma a resident of Jammu from Border Management Department of Union Home Ministry and BAPD Cell of Planning Development and Monitoring Department of Jammu and Kashmir government, it’s been exposed that utilization certificates worth Rs 83.64 are awaited since financial year 2015-16.

In his application under RTI, Sharma had sought year wise details regarding funds demanded by the J & K government under BAPD from union home ministry since FY 2010-11 and the funds released by MHA.

During the period 2010-11 to 2018-19 government of India has provided Rs 1227.94 crores under BAPD to the state government of Jammu and Kashmir for the welfare of the border residents.

Unfortunately, failure of the Babus in submitting utilizations certificates well in time has deprived the state government in getting its due share because as per the guidelines of this BAPD scheme, funds are released to the states in two instalments and the funding for the subsequent year is based on the confirmation of expenditure and receipt of approved list of schemes and the 1^st instalment of 90 percent of the allocation of the state is released only after submission of Utilization Certificates for the amount released in the previous years except the preceding year.

In the BAPD scheme is it specifically mentioned that if there is any shortfall in furnishing the UCs for the amount released during the previous years, except for the same year, the same amount is deducted in the time of release of the 1^st instalment.  

Unfortunately even being aware of all these straight and transparent  guidelines to avail funds under the BAPD, the concerned officers of the state government failed to submit expenditure details well in time and this is the reason that during the last 7 financial years, right form 2010-11 to 2017-18 on several occasion, the MHA has curtailed the funds in comparison what is asked by the state government.

In year 2014-15, the state government had made a demand of rupees 128 crore whereas only Rs 115.20 crores were released, similarly in 2015-16 there was shortfall of Rs 8.68 crores between  released and demanded amount, the asked amount was Rs 138.79 crore and released amount stood at Rs. 130.11 Cr.

The financial year 2017-18 witnessed the maximum curtailment of over 19 percent funds as the demanded amount by the state government of Jammu and Kashmir was Rs. 247.65 Crores and the released amount was just 198.89 crores means a clear shortfall of Rs. 47.74 crores.

During the current financial year 2018-19 also there is a gap between what amount is demanded and what’s released by the MHA, though yet one full quarter of the financial year is left, this year the asked amount is Rs 93.33 crores and the released amount as on date is Rs 69.79 crores.

Commenting on the exposure under RTI, the information seeker said he would file a submission to the governor and chief secretary of the state to make senior officers accountable so that state government gets its share well in time under BADP and the officers submit the utilization certificates with the union home ministry well in time.

IMPA Organizes Training Program on Leadership Skills for Senior Officers

Jammu, 07/Dec/2018; Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration organized 3 days training program here in Jammu campus on leadership skills for higher and middle level administrators under the coordination of Prof Sunita Zalpuri Kaul, Course director and Head of Centre for good governance, JKIMPA.

Participants including senior officers from the Health, Medical Education and School Education department attended the course. The primary focus of this course was to develop the self awareness and increase personal leadership fluency of the participants and to make them understand the critical responsibilities as a leader and to create leadership strategies that yield higher level of performance from their subordinates and staff team.

Sessions topics included basic concept of leadership and theories and styles, making positive changes and change management, becoming resilient leader, team building and collaboration skills and leadership and transparency with special reference to the civil rights law including RTI, Public service guarantee act.  

Besides course director Prof Sunita Zalpuri Kaul guest faculty included Prof Jaya Bhasin of Central University of Jammu and Raman Sharma, RTI Practitioner also interacted with the participants and delivered lectures on respective subjects, topics. On concluding day after  completion of the training program the participating officers were also provided certificates of participation by the IMPA administration.

Prof  Reva Inaugurates Certificate Course on Social Audit at IMPA

Jammu, 27/Oct/2018; For capacity building and sensitizing the district social audit coordinators, Prof Reva Sharma, Director Trainings at Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration  formally inaugurated One month certificate course in social accountability and social audit here  in Jammu campus of  JKIMPA.

Over 16 participants belonging to rural and remote districts including Ladakh, Doda, Rajouri, Samba, Reasi and different blocks of Kashmir region are undergoing this prestigious one month certificate course sponsored by union ministry of Rural development and Panchayti Raj, National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayats and certified by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.  During the inaugural session besides Prof Reva under whose overall supervision the course is administered, Javed Ahmed, Course Coordinator, Dr Ruchi Gupta faculty and master trainers for social auditing programs and guest faculty RTI  Practitioner  Raman Sharma were present. 

During interaction with the participants, director trainings asked the participants to concentrate on every session  and feel comfortable in raising their queries before the faculty and subject experts. In this one month certificate course the participants would be provided practical training  and course material and literature on different subjects related to social audit. They would also be provided basic knowledge of social laws related to common people like RTI, Public Service Guarantee Act, Panchayati Raj Act and other financial codes and rules.  

2855 Incidents of Cross Border Firing from Pakistan Claimed 109 Lives, 565 Injured in Less than 3 years

2855 Incidents of Cross Border Firing  from Pakistan Claimed 109  Lives, 565 Injured in Less than 3 years

JAMMU, 29 SEP 2018 ; In less than three years,  confrontations , including  cease fire violation and cross border firing incidents by Pakistan at International border and Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir have claimed over 109 lives of Indians including civilians and security force personals.

In the same period over 565 civilians and Indian security force personals got injured in these cross border hostilities.

The information provided by Kashmir desk of Union home ministry in response to an RTI application of information seeker Raman Sharma of Jammu reveals that as compared to previous 2 years,  2018 witnessed maximum number of cease fire violation and cross border firing incidents from Pakistan both at International border and on LoC in J and K State and 1435 cases reported alone in year 2018 till July which is maximum as compared to data of year 2016 and 2017. In year 2016 number of ceasefire violations reported were 449 [ 228 at LoC, 221 at IB] and in year 2017 the number reached 971 [ 860 at LoC and 111 at IB].

Those who got martyred in the cross border shelling incidents include 56 security force personals and 53 other civilian residents, maximum 28 civilians got martyred in 2018. These border confrontations also caused injuries to 565 Indians including 302 civilians and 263 security force personals.

It is pertinent to mention here that in Jammu and Kashmir state, the International border between India and Pakistan is guarded by BSF and LoC by Indian Army. In comparison to last 2 years the year 2018 caused maximum loss not only to civilian population but BSF also lost it’s 12 soldiers and 47 others received injuries during confrontations at International border whereas in 2016 and 2017 collectively this border force lost it’s 9 brave men and  39 others got injured.

This 2 page RTI Information is released, duly signed by Director S-JK, Kashmir desk of union home ministry vide their office letter no. 13030/2/2018-K.II dated 31/08/2018.

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IMPA Organizes Training Program on Digital India'

Jammu, 28/SEPT/2018; Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration [ JKIMPA ] organized five days training program on Digital India  for senior officers from department of Industries and J and K Police.  

Dr  Sunita  Zalpuri,  the course director and Head, Centre for Good Governance and Administrative Reforms conducted  the overall  program and other faculties including  Dr Neena Bhalla Associate Professor, JKIMPA,  Lochan  Dass, former Director Treasuries, Raman Sharma, Journalist and RTI Practitioner  and  Mavi Kapoor , City Mission Manager from Urban Development Department interacted with the participating trainees.

 A detailed outlook of Digital India Campaign and its implementation in the state of Jammu and Kashmir was also demonstrated through power point presentations.     

    

The course director Dr. Sunita who is recognised trainer for e governance and has conducted number of programs on digital empowerment apprised the trainees about e-Governance Project lifecycle and legal and regulatory framework for e governance.  Practical training about online RTI application and appeal submission through rtionline.gov.in  was also featured in  the training program.

During the training session, the participating officers were made familiar about the concept of Digital India campaign launched by the government of India to ensure the government services are made available to citizens electronically by improved online infrastructure and by increasing the internet connectivity and by making the country digitally empowered in the field of technology.

 On concluding day of the training session, the trainee officers were also awarded Certificates of participation.

RTI Activists meet Advisor Ganai

Demands Appointment of Information Commissioners

Jammu, 21/Aug/2018; Recently a delegation  of RTI activists from Jammu including lawyers met Khurshid Ahmed Gani, Advisor to Governor and presented their demands through a memorandum wherein they asked for immediate appointment of members of the state information commission and organizing RTI awareness programs in educational institutions. 

In the memorandum they have also suggested to amend section 12 of the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information Act 2009 to clear the impediment  for appointment of the members of the Information Commission, as under present law, the appointments of Information Commissioners are to be done by Chief Minister, a Minister of the state government and leader of opposition in the Legislative Assembly.

Advisor Ganai gave a patient hearing to activists and assured them the present regime headed by governor is serious in proper implementation of the RTI Act and he would convey the concern of the activist to the governor. Taking cognizance of the another demand of the delegation regarding awareness and RTI sensitization programs, he immediately directed director school education Jammu who was also present during the meeting to organize such an event next  month involving zonal level officers of the school education department for RTI sensitization.

The delegation of activists who presented the memorandum include S.Balvinder  Singh, Convener Sangarsh RTI Movement, RTI Activist Raman Sharma , Advocate Dewaker Sharma and Advocate Hunar Gupta.

Profile of Newly Elected Governor of J & K State.

Sh. Satya Pal Malik, Honourable Governor of J & K.