Jammu, Jan 10 (KINS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah officially launched the Jammu and Kashmir Right to Information (RTI) Online Portal at the Civil Secretariat today, marking a key advancement in enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.
The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar, along with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, and other senior administrative officials.
In his speech, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised the efforts of the officers who contributed to the development of the portal, underscoring its potential to simplify the RTI application process for citizens. “This initiative will provide citizens with easier access to government information under the RTI Act, offering a quicker, more transparent, and cost-effective solution,” he said.
The Chief Minister also urged the relevant authorities to widely publicize the initiative to ensure that citizens across Jammu and Kashmir are aware of its benefits.
Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Jammu and Kashmir, the portal replaces the traditional manual process with an online system, allowing citizens to submit RTI requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically—eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices.
Earlier, M. Raju, Secretary General Administration Department (GAD), presented an overview of the portal’s features, emphasizing its accessibility, efficiency, and role in fostering accountability. He detailed the portal’s key functionalities, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined workflow, and comprehensive documentation features.
A standout feature of the portal is the provision of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email, enabling them to easily track the status of their 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 greater citizen awareness of government activities.(KINS)
