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.