Contemptuous Approach of JMC Mocking Govt’s Online Grievance Cell

JMC Makes Mockery of Grievance Cell

Jammu, 24/JAN/2019; Continuing its contemptuous approach towards the pleas of the general public and directions of senior officers, the Jammu Municipal Corporation has not spared even the JK Government’s Grievance Cell which  is operated from civil secretariat under the direct control of General Administration Department. As per the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure, SoP, the maximum time limit is fixed as 15 days for the departments to redress the grievance of the complainants received via online portal (www.jkgrievance.in ) but unfortunately concerned officers of the Jammu Municipal Corporation do not bother any SoPs or standing instructions of the government and ignore the fixed time line deliberately.

The casual approach of the JMC has been exposed by a complainant, an unemployed degree holder engineer, Sushant Gupta a resident of Mast Garh, Jammu who had submitted an online  complaint with the JK Grievance cell vide no. 999001025959 on 21/Dec/2019 against the JMC about alleged nepotism and flouting of sets rules and codal formalities by the JMC officers in awarding a  construction tenders worth lacs of rupees to  one particular firm on higher rates and ignoring the other firm that have quoted the  lowest  rates and thus causing huge loss to the state exchequer.

In the plea with the Grievance cell, the complainant had asked for an impartial probe and keeping the tender in abeyance. From the Grievance cell the said complaint was forwarded to the JMC on 27/Dec/2018 with the direction to dispose it of within 15 days as per the standard operating procedure but till date neither the JMC held any probe nor replied to the complainant or to the Grievance Cell.  

Sushant alleges that till date no action is been taken by any officer of the Municipal Corporation so far and the only hope is left on Governor Satya Pal Malik, he also told that a complaint about alleged bungling in awarding the tender has also been submitted with the State Vigilance Commission, Crime Branch Jammu and Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation but any response from these organization is also awaited yet.  

रमन आरटीआइ के हथियार से भ्रष्टाचार पर कर रहे वार

, DAINIK JAGRAN , Published on: Sun, 20 Jan 2019 

हर कोई भ्रष्टाचार, सरकार में सुस्ती से हो रहे कायों की बातें करता है लेकिन इन्हें उजागर करने के लिए या फिर दूसरों को इंसाफ दिलाने के लिए आगे नहीं आता। चंद लोग ही ऐसे होते हैं जो ..........

जम्मू, राज्य ब्यूरो। हर कोई भ्रष्टाचार, सरकार में सुस्ती से हो रहे कायों की बातें करता है लेकिन इन्हें उजागर करने के लिए या फिर दूसरों को इंसाफ दिलाने के लिए आगे नहीं आता। चंद लोग ही ऐसे होते हैं जो कि ऐसा साहस जुटा पाते हैं। जम्मू के पी मिट्ठा के रहने वाले रमन शर्मा एक ऐसे शख्य है जिन्होंने सूचना के अधिकार से न सिर्फ सरकारी उदासीनता को लोगों के बीच लाया बल्कि कई लोगों को इसी से इंसाफ भी दिलाया। वह लोगों को यह भी जानकारी देते हैं कि अपने अधिकारों को कैसे प्राप्त करना है।

उन्होंने यह भी बताया कि शासन और प्रशासन में व्याप्त अव्यवस्थाओं को उजागर करते हुए उनका समाधान कराने का सशक्त माध्यम सूचना का अधिकार (आरटीआइ) भी है। वह पिछले बारह साल से आरटीअाइ के माध्यम से कई मामलों को उजागर कर चुके हैं। रमन शर्मा बताते हैं कि यह साल 2006 की बात है जब भारतीय संचार निगम लिमटेड से उन्होंने एक जानकारी मांगी थी। उस समय जम्मू कश्मीर में आरटीआइ कानून लागू भी नहीं था। परंतु जागरूक रमन ने केंद्र के आरटीआइ कानून के सहारे बीएसएनएल को दो रुपये जुर्माना भी करवाया था। उनका कहना था कि इसी ने उन्हें एक नई सोच और ताकत दी। इसके बाद उन्होंने कभी भी पीछे मुड़ कर नहीं देखा।

32 हजार विद्यार्थियों को दिलाई डिग्रियां 

जम्मू विश्वविद्यालय में पढ़ने वाले 32 हजार विद्यार्थी ऐसे थे जिन्हें प्रशासन डिग्रियां नहीं दे रहा था। रमन शर्मा ने उस समय आरटीआइ का सहारा लिया और विश्वविद्यालय प्रशासन की उदासीनता को सभी के साामने लाया। इसमें यह खुलाया हुआ कि डिग्रियां तो बन जाती थी, मगर यह विद्यार्थियों को नहीं दी जाती थी। इस खुलासे के बाद विश्वविद्यालय प्रशासन हजारों विद्यार्थियों को डिग्रियां देने के लिए विवश हो गया था।

सीमांत क्षेत्रों की अनदेखी काे उजागर किया

संघर्ष विराम के दौरान हर बार पाकिस्तान की गोलीबारी का सामना करने वाले राज्य के सीमांत क्षेत्रों के विकास के लिए सरकार ने बार्डर एरिया डेवलपमेंट प्रोग्राम में बरती जा रही सुस्ती को भी रमन शर्मा ने उजागर किया। इसमें यह खुलाया हुआ कि राज्य सरकार पहले से भेजे गए फंड का यूटेलाइजेशन सर्टिफिकेट ही केंद्र को नहीं दे पाता। इस कारण करोड़ों रुपये केंद्र राज्य को भेजता ही नहीं। राज्य प्रशासन केंद्र सरकार के गृह मंत्रालय को बार्डर एरिया डेवलपमेंट प्रोग्राम के तहत आए फंड में से 83.64 करोड़ रुपये इस्तेमाल करने का प्रमाणपत्र देने में विफल रहा। इससे केंद्र ने राज्य को दिए जाने वाले फंड में कटौती कर दी। यह प्रमाणपत्र साल 2015-16 से ही नहीं दिया गया है।

पुलिस को मार्डन बनाने में विफल रहने का मुद्दा उठाया

रमन शर्मा ने केंद्र सरकार से राज्य पुलिस को मार्डन बनाने के लिए आए फंड को इस्तेमाल करने और उसका यूटेलाइजेशन सर्टिफिकेट देने में विफल रहने का मुद्दा भी आरटीआई से उजागर किया। केंद्र ने राज्य को 223 करोड़ रुपये भेजे लेकिन राज्य गृह विभाग केंद्रीय गृह मंत्रालय को 57 करोड़ रुपये का यूटेलाइजेशन सर्टिफिकेट देने में विफल रहा।

एक हजार से अधिक आरटीआइ दायर की

रमन शर्मा ने केंद्र सरकार और राज्य सरकार के विभिन्न विभागों और मंत्रालयों में एक हजार से अधिक आरटीआइ दायर की। इसमें उन्होंने कई अव्यवस्थाओं को सामने लाया। राज्य सरकार को कड़े कदम उठाने के लिए विवश किया। उनका कहना है कि उन्होंने अपने निजी स्वार्थ के लिए कभी भी एक आरटीआइ दायर की।

लोगों को कर रहे जागरूक

रमन शर्मा अब युवाओं व अन्य लोगाें को आरटीआइ के बारे में जागरूक भी कर रहे हैं। वह स्कूलों, कालेजों में सेमिनार करने के अलावा राज्य प्रशासन और सूचना आयोग से भी जुड़े हुए हैं। उनका कहना है कि उनका मकसद अधिक से अधिक लोगों को सूचना के अधिकार के बारे में जागरूक करना है ताकि प्रशासन में बरती जा रही अनियमितताओं को उजागर किया जा सके।
RAMAN SHARMA, RTI, DAINIK JAGRAN

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT CBSE VS ADITYA BANDOPADHAYA ON RTI

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT CBSE VS ADITYA BANDOPADHAYA ON RTI

In 5 Years, MHA Released over Rs 223 Cr for Modernization of JKP

J & K Govt. Fails to Submit  UCs of Rs. 57 Cr to MHA

Jammu, 13/Jan/2019; Despite liberal funding by the union home ministry for  modernization of Jammu and Kashmir Police under ‘Assistance to States for Modernization of Police’ scheme, yet the Babus of the state government failed to submit utilization certificates to the union home ministry within stipulated period of time which is primary condition for further release of funds.

As per the information shared by the Police Modernization division of union home ministry in response to an RTI Application of  Jammu based information seeker Raman Sharma, it has been informed that during the period between 2014-15 to 2017-18 an amount of Rs. 223 Crore has been released under the police modernization scheme to the state  but unfortunately the Utilization certificates amounting Rs 57.48 crores are pending from the Jammu and Kashmir Government for the last 5 years, the state home department even failed to submit UCs of financial years 2014-15 to 2017-18.

It is pertinent to mention here that under this scheme, the States are grouped into two categories, namely Category ‘A’ and Category ‘B’ for the purpose of funding.

Including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other North-East States, J and K is also kept in group ‘A’ and is eligible to receive 90% of financial assistance and need to provide 10% of their own funds. The remaining States are in Category ‘B’ and these States are provided funds in the ratio of 60:40, with Central Government providing 60% of the funds under the MPF scheme, however non submission of utilization certificates in time impacts the further release of funds by the MHA.  

Earlier, lethargy and undermining the importance of timely submission of such Utilization Certificate by the Jammu and Kashmir Government has resulted in constituting of a financial indiscipline of the sorts inviting the resultant drastic reduction of funding under Border Area Development Programme by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

EARLIER RTI REPLY


https://jkrtiact.blogspot.com/2017/03/in-less-than-7-years-rs547-cr-spent-on.html

DAINIK JAGRAN 14 JAN 2019

EARLY TIMES 14 JAN 2019

AMAR UJALA 14 JAN 2019

JOURNEY LINE 14 JAN 2019

GREATER KASHMIR 14 JAN/19

JK HIGH COURT REPLY ON ADVOCATES LICENSES

IMPA Concludes series of Training Programs for ULB Members

Series of Training programs for newly elected ULB members Concludes

Jammu, 09/Jan/2019;  Jammu and Kashmir Institute of Management and Public Administration, JKIMPA  under the supervision of Prof Reva Sharma, Director Training Jammu today successfully concluded its series of foundation training program for  newly elected urban local body members including corporators of  Jammu Municipal Corporations. In the last batch ward members from Katra, Reasi, Rajouri and Thanamandi Urban Local bodies attended the training program.

In Jammu, around 400 ULB members in  11 batches representing  all municipal committees and councils attended the training program between 03 DEC 2018 TO 09 JAN 2019 at Sidhra Camp of JKIMPA.

During the training program, the elected representatives of local bodies were familiarized about J and K municipal act 2000, role and responsibilities of elected members, effective leadership, resource mobilization and municipal financial accounting. They were also Informed about basic civil rights like RTI Act and practical online training modules.

Besides Prof Reva other faculty members of the IMPA including Dr. Neena Bhalla,  Manju Kapoor, Dr Ruchi Gupta and guest faculties comprising Hari Har Dutt, former director planning, Er Marvi Gupta, Zafar Iqbal, State Nodal Officer for solid and liquid waste management Raman Sharma, Journalist and social activist and others also interacted with the participating elected representatives and replied their queries during different interactional slots. All the participants were also awarded certificates by the IMPA authorities.  All these training programs for ULB members in the IMPA campuses in Kashmir and Jammu  were supported by the Housing and Urban development department.

Activists demand Justice for deceased Student of Jammu University

Activists Demand Justice for Family of Deceased Law Student of JU

Jammu, 04/Jan/2019; In a joint appeal to the governor Satyapal Malik who also happens to be the chancellor of Jammu University, civil society members including Legal professionals and civil rights activists has asked governor Satyapal Malik and Vice Chancellor of the Jammu University to immediately intervene and ensure disbursement of insurance claim to the family of deceased Abhishek Kohli who was student of law department of the university and unfortunately met with road accident in 2017. 

 As per university norms, every student at the time of his/her admission  the university is  given an insurance cover of Rs. 2, 80000 at a premium  of Rs. 100 for accidental death and total disablement, this premium amount was also paid by Abhishek  Kohli when he had taken admission in the university in Aug 2017 but unfortunately his parents did not get the insurance claim for over a year now due to the negligence of some university officials who not only misguided Rajesh Kohli father of the deceased student but allegedly also demanded bribe for disbursement of the insurance claim. It is pertinent to mention here that Rajesh Kohli is also partially disable.   

                                                   

The appeal seeking justice for deceased student is endorsed by RTI Activists Raman Sharma, Deepak Sharma, Dewaker Sharma and Hunar Gupta advocates of the J and K High Court, Munish Sharma and Harasis Singh of the save my Tawi Campaign, Balvider Singh Convener of Sangarsh RTI Movement and  Parveen Sharma an educationist and Chairman of Public Opinion Forum, they  also demanded  immediate arrest of the driver who had killed Abhishek Kohli in 2017 in road accident.

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.