Jammu, Jan 10 (NationPress) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah officially inaugurated the Jammu & Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal on Friday, representing a crucial advancement in promoting transparency and accountability in governance, according to an official statement.
The launch ceremony held at the Civil Secretariat was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, along with Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries, and senior officials.
During his address, Omar Abdullah commended the officers responsible for the portal's development, stressing its transformative potential in streamlining the RTI application process for the public.
"This initiative will afford citizens easy access to government information under the RTI Act, equipping them with a quicker, more transparent, and cost-effective mechanism," he remarked.
The Chief Minister also called for the authorities to ensure extensive awareness of the initiative so that residents across Jammu & Kashmir can grasp its advantages.
Crafted by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), Jammu and Kashmir, the portal signifies a transition from manual RTI applications to an online format. This shift allows citizens to submit RTI requests, monitor their status, and receive responses electronically, thereby removing the necessity for physical visits to government offices.
Prior to the launch, Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M. Raju, presented an overview of the portal’s features, underscoring its accessibility, convenience, speed of processing, cost efficiency, and its role in enhancing accountability. He elaborated on the portal’s key functionalities, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined RTI workflow, and robust documentation capabilities.
A standout feature of the portal is the provision of a registration number to applicants through SMS and email for future reference, facilitating easy tracking of RTI applications. The portal connects 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers/public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and keeping citizens informed about government activities.
