10 different sectors, 58 indicators identified; trial going on
*2000 slots kept for mid-term training of JKAS officers
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 6: For the first time, the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is going to implement District Good Governance Index from January next year in order to measure the status of governance in all the 20 districts based on indicators/parameters selected in consultation with Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) of the Government of India and J&K Institute of Management Public Administration and Rural Development (J&K IMPARD).
Moreover, a mechanism has been developed for mid-term training programme of officers of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and those of several key departments of the Union Territory in order to prepare them for higher-level of responsibilities.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has prepared District Good Governance Index in consultation with DARPG and J&K IMPARD for measuring the status of governance in all the 20 districts based on selected indicators/parameters.
“Ten development sectors, 58 indicators and 116 data sets have been approved by the Government and data from each district has been collated and weightage accorded to each indicator keeping in view national and UT specific priorities”, they said, adding “the Index will be published and implemented from January next year and with this Jammu and Kashmir will become the first Union Territory in the country to implement District Good Governance Index”.
The 10 governance sectors are agriculture and allied sectors, commerce and industries, human resource development, public health, public infrastructure and utilities, social welfare and development, financial inclusion, judicial and public security, environment and citizen centric governance.
With this, districts will not only compete with each other on different indicators/parameters but District Good Governance Index will help in assessing the performance of the Deputy Commissioners as it would be their sole responsibility to improve the rankings after every year.
“The indicators/parameters have been finalized keeping in view the priorities of the Government of J&K Union Territory thus making it a benchmark for effective public service delivery and good governance”, sources said while disclosing that recently Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta had detailed deliberations with all the Administrative Secretaries on District Good Governance Index and accordingly directions were passed for making all the arrangements for its implementation from January next year.
They informed that the objective behind developing District Good Governance Index is not to use the assessment results with a carrot and stick approach to pressurise districts but to enable them to formulate and implement suitable strategies for improving living standards of the citizens.
“The results would lead to healthy and more informed policy discussions between different tiers of Government and all stakeholders. The assessment using the District Good Governance Index would mark a shift from data-driven approach to result-oriented approach and management and promote healthy competition among districts”, sources further said.
Disclosing that agreement has also been signed with DARPG for mid-term training programme of officers of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service and those of different key departments, sources said, “on the intervention of Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, DARPG has allotted 2000 slots to the J&K Government for the purpose”, adding “the aim is to impart structured in-service training to officers to prepare them for higher levels of responsibilities and to equip them for effective transition to strategy formulation and its implementation”.
“This has become imperative especially in the light of the fact that several officers of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service are going to be inducted into All India Service and mid-term training would be of immense help for them in handling the future assignments”, sources said.
Further, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) will conduct case study of Back to Village, Empowerment and Ayushman Bharat schemes. The writing aspect will be handled by the concerned departments while as certification part will be handled exclusively by ASCI, sources said.
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