Jagdish R Sharma
The word SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. In the Netlingo-Dictionary of Internet words, the word “SMART” refers to “Self-monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology” It is a technology that uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analysis to provide cognitive awareness to objects that were in the past considered inanimate. In this modern time, we want everything Smart. It has great importance in our day-to-day life. The word Smart is ubiquitous nowadays. The new generation has also adapted to this and is familiar with SMART devices and systems.
When the word ‘smart’ is used within terms such as smartphones, smart cities, smart electric meters, smart watches, smart cards, smart homes, smart buses, etc it comes from the acronym S.M.A.R.T., which initially stood for ‘Self-monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technologies’, about a device that can learn from the way we use it. All the Smart devices are made intelligent with advanced computing, including AI and machine learning, and networked to form the Internet of Things (IoT). It’s worth installing a smart meter. You’ll receive free, live information about your energy usage, enabling you to make changes and cut your bills as and when desired. You’ll also never have to take a manual reading again. You can know that your readings are accurate and timely.
Let us pause for some time and think about, what would happen to all these things, if the people operating or working with these smart systems were not intelligent or smart enough to handle them. The human interface with all these systems is invariably unavoidable to some extent only. The smart system needs smart people to achieve desirable results. Otherwise, it has cascading effects on the outcome of the system.
In India, the Govt has upgraded most of the systems to make them smart like smart devices. They are technology-friendly, convenient, and reliable. Jammu and Kashmir have also experienced the use of smart meters, smart lights, Smart Traffic Management systems, etc. For example, Intelligent transportation systems (ITS), or smart traffic management systems, provide an organized, integrated approach to minimizing congestion and improving safety on city roads and streets through connected technology.
The ITMS ( Intelligent Traffic Management System) can enhance traffic management through features like Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), and monitoring for infractions such as riding without a helmet, triple riding, not wearing seat belts, using mobile phones while driving, and wrong parking. Despite the system being intelligent and smart, wrong challans have also been reported. There are also complaints that in rare cases, some people have also been charged toll tax without using the road. Sometimes four four-wheeler owners were also challaned for not wearing helmets.
Now the question arises, do these systems produce the desirable results on the ground? Yes, they can but, it all depends on the people who are entrusted with the job. you can get your traffic challan online for skipping traffic signals but the commercial vehicles parked on the road near by the ITS remain elusive. Jammu Railway Station could be one example.
The other example of smartness is that you can find street lights on during the daytime and sometimes may remain non-functional for weeks together. In some posh areas of Jammu city, street lights remain non-functional and there is nobody to mend it. The phone numbers available in the public domain are normally of no use as their response to resolve the complaint is uncertain. In rural areas, the Power department fails to collect revenue in time and delay leads to the accumulation of overdue arrears. This irks the people who feel that they are being charged arbitrarily. They should also encourage people, who want to install an electric meter. There shouldn’t be any compulsion to go for a flat rate. When there is a provision to make all the payments online, the department should encourage it . Some employees reportedly asked customers to approach banks to make payments or demand a bank draft. All these things can be avoided after sensitizing the employees and making them technology proficient. These problems were faced by people while settling their dues under the amnesty scheme. Unnecessary delay in issuing bills in the case of power and water has resulted in pecuniary loss to the govt. On the contrary, people show resentment as they think the bills have been inflated.
Faceless, Paperless, and Cashless are some of the professed roles of Digital India. As part of promoting cashless transactions and converting India into a less-cash society, various modes of digital payments are available.
Govt. of Jammu Kashmir has introduced faceless and paperless services in the interest of the masses but it seems that “smart employees ” love to have face-to-face and paperwork. Sometimes people face problems in some departments like; Revenue, PDD, Jal Shakti Department, Health, Transport, Finance, Food Supply, Rural, etc. They have to present themselves physically instead of faceless facilities.
You can experience these things in RTO offices daily. Regional Transport Officers, have made various facilities online in tune with digital smart systems, but seldom implement them in toto.
The tax can be paid online or offline. You can also pay the tax as a one-time payment (life tax) or in installments. But in reality, last month I had to visit physically to remit road tax as the system had been not working for a long time. Penalty, if any shall be borne by the vehicle owners.
The Jal Shakti (PHE) Department, of the Jammu Kashmir Govt needs to be Smart enough to provide potable drinking water to the people. They are supposed to investigate, plan, and implement water supply schemes to extend drinking water facilities to Rural and Urban populations including schools and other institutions. For revenue collection, they should encourage the stakeholders to make online payments and send the bills to their mobile numbers or homes. Grievances should be addressed immediately. The leakage of water pipes should be plugged in soon. water supply should be made regular and constant.
Many services are available online but the employees at the helm of affairs discourage them, as they may be technophobic or otherwise. The need of the hour is to make them tech-savvy or technology-proficient.
Recently e- F.I.R. has also been introduced, with this facility people can lodge an F.I.R. at any police station without being physically present. Let us hope that it proves to be beneficial to the public and presents a rosy picture of Smart City.
What to talk of the grievances of other departments, even the Jammu Kashmir Integrated Grievances Redress and Monitoring System itself is not up to the expectations of the people. My personal experience has been not so satisfactory. The complaint was just passed on from one step to another and finally landed with the same person, where the problem originated. The status of the complaint was shown as resolved after a long time without any relief.
Jammu and Srinagar are Smart cities in Jammu Kashmir UT. A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses. A smart city goes beyond the use of digital technologies for better resource use and less emissions.
The main goal of a smart city is to optimize city functions and promote economic growth while also improving the quality of life for citizens by using smart technologies and data analysis. The quality of life and ease of doing can only be achieved when the administration intends to make the system faceless, contactless, cashless, paperless, user-friendly, and above all, administration answerable to people in a time-bound manner.
Concisely, Smart systems work better when every stakeholder is sincere and contributes to its betterment. Administrative machinery and citizens must be interactive and responsible for their respective duties. Citizens should also adapt to ever-changing technology and civic amenities made available to them. Citizens should know their responsibilities, duties, and rights and help the administration to deliver. All people, whether citizens or employees have to be smart to enjoy life in a smart city. If anyone fails to be intelligent enough to cope with the technology, then the very idea of Smartness is defeated. Everyone has the responsibility to make the system run efficiently. Careless and unintelligent people cannot handle the system. So, let us be Smart enough to be SMART citizens of SMART CITY.
(The author is formerly Principal JK Education Department)
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