Srinagar, Sep 28 (KNO): Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting of all the concerned Administrative Heads to review Jammu and Kashmir’s preparedness for the upcoming nationwide ‘Reform Utsav’, a three-month mega-campaign scheduled from October to December 2026 to showcase transformative governance reforms, citizen-centric initiatives and developmental achievements of the past 12 years.
The meeting was attended by the concerned Administrative Secretaries, including Commissioner Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department; Commissioner Secretary, Industries and Commerce; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; and representatives of other concerned departments.
The meeting focused on strengthening institutional coordination, ensuring grassroots participation and finalising a comprehensive action plan for the effective implementation of the campaign across the Union Territory.
The nationwide initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Government of India, envisages a whole-of-government approach to highlighting major governance reforms, their impact on citizens and the transformation brought about through various developmental interventions.
Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasised that the campaign should go beyond ceremonial events and serve as an effective platform for bringing governance reforms closer to the people, particularly at the grassroots level.
The Chief Secretary directed the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department to work in close coordination with the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department to organise special Gram Sabhas across all Panchayats of the Union Territory ahead of the nationwide launch.
He stressed that these Gram Sabhas should provide an opportunity for citizens to learn about major governance reforms, assess their impact and identify developmental priorities specific to their respective areas.
Dulloo further directed the district administrations to immediately designate nodal officers for overseeing Panchayat-level activities and ensuring effective coordination among the departments concerned.
Emphasising timely preparedness, the Chief Secretary instructed all line departments to complete the identification of citizen-centric reforms, preparation of locally relevant Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material to share it with the Planning Department and deployment of field functionaries before October 2, 2026.
The Chief Secretary observed that the campaign should also provide an opportunity to assess the outcomes of major public welfare initiatives and sensitise citizens about the benefits of governance reforms. He called upon the departments to ensure that the achievements showcased during the campaign are supported by tangible outcomes and reflect improvements in public service delivery.
The Chief Secretary called for close interdepartmental coordination and meticulous planning to ensure that all scheduled activities are organised effectively and achieve the desired outreach.
As part of the campaign, the Commissioner Secretary, I&C, Vikramjit Singh apprised the meeting that two major events are proposed to be organised in Srinagar and Jammu during November and December, respectively, highlighting the Union Territory’s developmental transformation and the impact of major Central Government initiatives.
He highlighted that a high-level workshop focusing on the holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to be held at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, in November 2026. The event will be coordinated by Secretary, Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Alice Vaz.
Similarly, a workshop for industrial beneficiaries is scheduled to be organised by Industries & Commerce Department in Jammu during December 2026 to highlight the achievements and impact of the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS), 2021, in promoting industrial investment and economic development across the Union Territory.
The meeting was further informed that the initial activities under the campaign are scheduled to commence in Srinagar on October 8, 2026, featuring major digital interventions of the Department of Justice, including Tele-Law and the Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot, alongside initiatives of the Department of Posts.
Concluding the Chief Secretary emphasised that Reform Utsav should serve as an opportunity to demonstrate the tangible benefits of governance reforms while strengthening public awareness, citizen participation and accountability in the delivery of government services across the length and breadth of the UT—(KNO)