People coming up from sensitive areas like Jammu and Kashmir are usually disconnected from the rest of the country, as compared to people living in other parts. Apart from national security and things related to it, people in the newly carved union territory are generally unaware of the development/infrastructural work happening in other regions of India. To provide necessary exposure to the officers who are selected to work for the public in J&K, a program is being conducted in Uttarakhand where 29 Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) Trainees are sent to study the work being done under the Dehradun Smart City Project.
This two-week-long programme has been initiated by the National Center for Good Governance organization by Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy in Mussoorie.
INTERACTIVE SESSION
On September 6, 2021, all the 29 JKAS trainees came to Dehradun to participate in an interactive session where they could study about the smart city project in the Uttarakhand capital.
IAS officer Dr. Rajesh Kumar who is currently the District Magistrate and CEO of Dehradun Smart City said, “The National Center for Good Governance is an organization which conducts training and field visit sessions for the civil services trainees. Similarly, 29 JKAS officers conducted an interactive session in Dehradun where the work done under the smart city project was discussed with them.”
A presentation was made by the Finance Controller of Dehradun Smart City Mr Abhishek Anand. During the presentation, information was shared about electric buses and Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) which was in fact a main learning point for the trainees. Apart from this, works related to smart schools’ and smart toilets were also discussed.
The DM said, “Many suggestions also came from the trainees and they all had a very productive and good experience by discussing about the work which is being done under the smart city project in the state. With such programs, the states can also better understand each others functioning.”
BENEFITS FOR THE TRAINEES
Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of J&K, Mr Narinder Singh Bali (JKAS) said, “Officers in Jammu and Kashmir are generally cut-off and are unaware of the national projects being taken up in the country. This programme in Dehradun will keep these officers in loop, so that they can also implement in J&K various initiatives related to development during their service.”
“The interactive session in Dehradun was one of its kind and has been very effective for the officers. The officers have got an insight of the work being done at national level. They not only gain information about development of infrastructure but the development of their minds as well. As a young soul, the more developed their mind is the more productive would be results of their efforts,” he added.
The programme for the J&K visitors is still in progress.
