The essence of good governance lies in transparency, timely evaluation, and continuous improvement. However, the prolonged delay in the release of the Annual District Good Governance Index (DGGI) Report for the Financial Year 2023-24 in Jammu and Kashmir stands in stark contrast to these principles. With even the Financial Year 2024-25 end, the absence of this crucial performance assessment document hampers the ability of district administrations to rectify governance gaps and implement corrective measures. Launched in 2021, the DGGI was envisioned as a critical tool to evaluate district performance across various governance parameters, fostering healthy competition and motivating administrative efficiency. By providing a data-driven assessment of governance effectiveness in different sectors, the index helps identify shortcomings, track improvements, and guide policy adjustments. The release of past reports in October 2022 and June 2023 indicated a structured approach to governance evaluation. However, the current delay signals a deviation from this commitment.
District administrations are the fundamental pillars of governance, responsible for implementing policies and ensuring service delivery. The index serves as a mirror reflecting their efficiency, helping authorities pinpoint weaknesses and devise strategies to address them. The timely publication is essential to its effectiveness-delayed release negates the opportunity for immediate course correction. If the report for 2023-24 is published after the completion of 2024-25, its insights will be rendered obsolete, serving little more than an academic purpose rather than a pragmatic one. Officials have cited various reasons for the delay, including elections and the formation of a political Government. While political transitions may disrupt administrative processes, they should not come at the cost of governance evaluation. The Economic and Statistics Department, responsible for compiling the report, must prioritise its completion and ensure its timely release, irrespective of political developments. Governance is an ongoing process, and the mechanisms that monitor its effectiveness should function independently of political timelines. The concerned authorities must institutionalise a strict timeline for future reports. Only through consistent and timely performance analysis can the objective of holistic development and efficient governance be truly achieved in Jammu and Kashmir.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
