Vohra’s proactive approach ends admn inertia

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 7

Since the imposition of the Governor’s rule in the state on January 8, Governor NN Vohra has not only brought the administrative inertia to an end but also left no stone unturned to put in place good and responsive governance for the people.

The Governor’s proactive approach since January 8 to bring administration to life and bureaucrats on their toes was self-explanatory from some of his major decisions.

His directions to the Chief Secretary BR Sharma on January 28 regarding urban local bodies (ULBs) and the panchayats elections, asking him to hold consultations with political parties showed his seriousness towards the devolution of powers at the grass-roots level.

Elections to the ULBs and the panchayats were last held in J&K in 2005. Since then, the state has lost nearly Rs 300 crore Central funds because of the non-existence of the representative bodies.

In this context, the Governor had advised the Chief Secretary to draw up an action plan for holding the ULB elections in April this year and take urgent action for the panchayat elections in May.

On January 10, two days after the imposition of the Governor’s rule, Vohra also asked all administrative secretaries and other government functionaries to ensure efficient functioning of all government departments and promptly deliver services to the people.

He also directed all functionaries that they must attend their office punctually and work devotedly.

“Since January 8, he is personally looking after each and every major issue to ensure that people do not suffer in the absence of an elected government and, at the same time, he has also not left any stone unturned to install an elected government at the earliest,” said a senior bureaucrat.

In this context, the official drew attention to the Governor’s Republic Day speech where he hoped that the Governor’s rule in J&K shall not be for long.