Kashmir Input

LG Manoj Sinha Launches Dr A.H. Shah’s Book ‘Sharda to Sansad’, Highlights India’s Civilisational Heritage and Democratic Journey

Literature Connects Generations, Parliament Fulfils Nation’s Aspirations; PM Modi Linked J&K’s Aspirations with India’s Growth After Article 370 Abrogation: LG

Srinagar, Aug 2 (KNC): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday attended the launch of “Sharda to Sansad”, a book authored by Dr A.H. Shah, describing it as a significant scholarly work that bridges India’s ancient civilisational heritage with the democratic aspirations of modern India.

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated Dr Shah for his contribution and said the book is not merely a historical account but a meaningful dialogue between heritage and hope, linking the wisdom of the past with the democratic values of the present.

Emphasising the importance of literature and scholarship, LG Sinha said books on history, civilisation and culture serve as bridges between generations, keeping traditions alive through collective memory. He noted that “Sharda to Sansad” presents a fresh perspective on the continuity of the ancient Sharda Peeth civilisation and the strength of India’s democratic institutions.

Highlighting the significance of knowledge and democracy, the Lieutenant Governor remarked that while Sharda Peeth nurtured the wisdom of society, Parliament has worked to fulfil the aspirations of the nation. He said literature and scholarship illuminate the human spirit and connect different eras.

Referring to the developments in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, LG Sinha said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were integrated with those of the nation. He added that the empowerment of the Pahari community, along with other marginalised sections, marked a historic turning point in India’s democratic journey and would be remembered by future generations.

The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted India’s enduring intellectual legacy, recalling ancient centres of learning such as Nalanda, Takshashila and Vikramshila. He said that while physical structures may be destroyed, India’s tradition of knowledge, dialogue and learning remains eternal.

Praising the Pahari community for preserving its language, folklore, folk music and traditions despite challenges, LG Sinha said their rich oral heritage reflects courage, harmony and enduring human values.

Describing the book’s theme, he said the journey from Sharda to Sansad symbolises not only the journey of the Pahari community but also that of India—a civilisation that carried its ancient knowledge traditions into democratic institutions while preserving its cultural identity.

Calling for greater efforts to preserve India’s civilisational heritage, the Lieutenant Governor urged scholars, teachers, artists and citizens to document the country’s diverse cultural traditions. He observed that many villages remain undocumented, several dialects are yet to be scientifically studied and numerous folk songs have not been recorded, stressing that preserving such heritage would enrich the nation’s cultural archives.

LG Sinha also encouraged the younger generation to innovate while remaining connected to their cultural roots, expressing hope that the book would inspire meaningful dialogue, encourage fresh research and deepen respect for India’s rich cultural legacy.

Responding to issues raised by the Chairman of the J&K Pahari Welfare Society, the Lieutenant Governor said that despite the implementation of relevant laws, certain elements were deliberately creating obstacles. He assured that a robust mechanism would be established to address the concerns and provide relief to the people.

The event was attended by Zafar Iqbal Manhas, Chairman of J&K Pahari Welfare Society; author Dr A.H. Shah; Khush Dev Maini, Dr Jahangir Danish, several prominent literary personalities and members of various Pahari organisations.

Among others present were MLA Uri Dr Sajjad Shafi, former DDC Chairperson Safina Baig, DIG Central Kashmir Range Rajiv Pandey, SSP Srinagar Dr G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy, JKAACL Secretary Harvinder Kour, and other senior civil and police officials.(KNC)

CS launches 162 new online citizen services on eUNNAT
Directs removal of obsolete compliances, integration of high-volume services with WhatsApp and SSO

Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
SRINAGAR, JULY 31: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today held a meeting of all the concerned Administrative Secretaries to assess Jammu and Kashmir's performance on the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) and reviewed the progress made by the Information Technology Department towards expanding the digital governance ecosystem across the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary launched 162 district-level online citizen services, developed by the Information Technology Department, which have now been integrated with the eUNNAT Portal, taking the total number of online Government-to-Citizen (G2C) services available on the platform from 1,548 to 1,710.
The newly added services, developed for 18 districts of the Union Territory, encompass a wide range of regulatory permissions and public services, including permissions for fairs and exhibitions, cultural programmes, political and religious gatherings, processions, drone operations and several other district-level services.
These services are now available through a completely digital, paperless and workflow-based platform, enabling citizens to apply online, monitor the status of their applications and receive digitally signed approvals without visiting Government offices.
Emphasising continuous improvement, the Chief Secretary directed all Administrative Departments to ensure timely compliance with all mandatory NeSDA parameters and work in close coordination with the Information Technology Department for digitisation of additional public services.
The Chief Secretary also directed the Information Technology Department to work in close coordination with the Law Department to undertake a comprehensive review of all online citizen services with a view to identifying those that have become redundant or obsolete in view of subsequent policy and legislative reforms.
He observed that, under the Government's Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Reducing Compliance Burden (RCB) initiatives, several certificates, permissions and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) had already been abolished. Such services, he said, should no longer remain active on digital platforms, as their continued availability may lead to avoidable inconvenience for citizens.
Dulloo further maintained that the objective of digital governance is not merely to place services online but also to simplify governance by eliminating outdated and unnecessary compliances. He remarked that citizens, in no way, should be compelled to apply for certificates or permissions that are no longer required under the prevailing policy framework.
He advised that such services be appropriately categorised as 'No Longer Required' on the eUNNAT Portal after due legal validation. He expressed that our objective is not merely to improve rankings but to build an ecosystem where digital governance must translate into better governance at the grassroots level.
Emphasising greater accessibility and inclusive service delivery, the Chief Secretary further instructed the IT Department to identify at least 100 high-volume citizen services for integration with WhatsApp and the Single Sign-On (SSO) platform. He said that priority should be accorded to services frequently availed by farmers, tribal communities, women, children and other vulnerable sections to make Government services more accessible through widely used digital channels.
He further called for the integration of emerging digital public assets, including AgriStack-enabled digital land records and SVAMITVA Property Cards, as and when these are operationalised by the concerned departments, observing that the eUNNAT platform should continuously evolve into a comprehensive, future-ready digital service delivery ecosystem.
Speaking during the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance, Shailendra Kumar, stressed that the success of digital governance should be measured by the tangible value it creates for citizens rather than by the number of services hosted on a portal.
The emphasis should be on meaningful, high-impact and frequently used services. Addition of services, by itself, does not constitute progress unless those services genuinely address citizens' needs and improve their experience of public service delivery, he observed.
On this occasion the Commissioner Secretary, IT, Saurabh Bhagat revealed that under the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) the latest expansion of digital services has enabled Jammu and Kashmir to attain the 3rd position nationally, reflecting the sustained progress made in digital governance.
The Commissioner Secretary also apprised that 159 services developed by BISAG across various departments, including JK e-SEHAT, JK Samadhan, JKCIP, HADP and the Public Works Department. These services have already been integrated with the eUNNAT platform, further expanding the scope of online public service delivery, he added.
Moreover it was highlighted that nine additional services have successfully been developed and are presently undergoing User Acceptance Testing, while five additional services relating to the Revenue Department, Housing & Urban Development Department and Gulmarg Development Authority are under development and are expected to be operational shortly. Their integration will increase the total number of online services on the eUNNAT Portal to 1,724.
The roadmap to leverage emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, multilingual interfaces, WhatsApp-based service delivery, Single Sign-On, Face Authentication, Aadhaar-enabled authentication and e-Sign solutions, to further simplify access to Government services and improve the overall citizen experience also cameup for deliberations.
The meeting concluded with a review of the NeSDA-2026, with directions to all concerned departments to expedite digitisation of high-volume citizen services, strengthen compliance with national assessment parameters and sustain Jammu and Kashmir's leadership in digital governance.

Dr. Javid Peerzada of Karnah Appointed Consultant Gastro & HPB Surgeon at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Karnah
Renowned surgeon from Karnah, Dr. Javid Peerzada, has achieved another significant professional milestone by taking up the position of Consultant Gastro & HPB Surgeon at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.

His appointment has been widely welcomed by the people of Karnah, friends, fellow doctors, and members of various social circles, who have congratulated him on this remarkable achievement. They described his success as a matter of pride for the entire region and wished him good health, continued success, and greater accomplishments in his new role.

Well-wishers expressed confidence that Dr. Javid Peerzada, through his expertise, dedication, and professional excellence, will make a distinguished contribution in his new position, set high standards in the field of medicine, and continue providing outstanding care to patients.