Wonders why decision wasn’t part of poll campaign
Omar holds over 3 hours long meet with Civil Society
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today announced that his Government will restore Darbar Move saying Jammu’s uniqueness will not be allowed to diminish.
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His statement which would reverse the decision taken by the Lieutenant Governor in 2021 to end the practice of bi-annual Darbar Move which the Government said saved Rs 200 crore a year came after a meeting with prominent members of the Civil Society of Jammu, which was the first such initiative after Omar took over as the Chief Minister on October 16, this year.
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Till 2021, as per the centuries old practice, the Civil Secretariat, which is known as seat of the Government, used to function for six months from November to April (winter season) in Jammu and for six months from May to October (summer season) in Srinagar.
However, the Lieutenant Governor had stopped the practice and employees of Jammu division and Kashmir division worked from the Civil Secretariat of Jammu and Srinagar respectively throughout the year while the Administrative Secretaries shifted between Jammu and Srinagar as per the requirement.
Omar wondered as to why the issues of Darbar Move was not projected during campaigning for the Assembly elections saying it gained momentum only after the election results and formation of the Government.
Pointing out that the National Conference had mentioned issue of Darbar Move in its election manifesto as well as public meetings; the Chief Minister assured the citizens that the Darbar Move will be restored as Jammu has its own importance.
Omar’s meeting with the Civil Society lasted nearly three and half hours and was attended by senior officers of the administration during which the participants raised a host of issues which were listened very patiently by the Chief Minister.
“The Government takes its own decision which does impact the public. After a decision, whether its impact is right or wrong, there is a need to get a feedback…sometimes it becomes difficult to get the right feedback within the Government system because mostly you are surrounded by people who only praise you. So when a meeting of Civil Society takes place like this, mostly the participants come without any agenda and put forth their feedback and suggestions which turns out to be beneficial,” he said.
Omar said the purpose of this meeting was to get feedback and suggestions as well so that those are implemented.
He announced that such meetings will be convened twice a year in both regions.
“A lot of issues came up during the meeting. As I said in the meeting, all the issues raised were noted down and we will inform the participants about the Action Taken Report in the next meeting,” the Chief Minister said.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, and Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana and Satish Sharma, Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and senior civil and police officers attended meeting.
The meeting was part of the public outreach programme of the Chief Minister to ensure redressal of the issues faced by different sections of the society, including business community, lawyers and tourism stakeholders.
The representatives attending the meeting raised their problems and sought immediate intervention of the Government in addressing these issues concerning their welfare.
Omar heard the participants patiently and assured that all their issues will be addressed in due course of time.
An official handout said:-
Omar reiterated that his Government represents all citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of their political affiliations.
Addressing concerns of regional bias, he stated, “This Government is not just for those who voted for the National Conference; it is the Government of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. Despite attempts by some to play with emotions of Jammu after the elections and harping on issue of regional divide, we have consistently prioritized inclusivity and equity.”
The Chief Minister highlighted his deliberate decision to appoint a Deputy Chief Minister from Jammu, not out of compulsion but to underscore that Jammu is as integral to this Government as Kashmir.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives of women’s organizations, non-governmental organizations, ex-servicemen, Kashmiri Pandits, traders, hoteliers, tourism players, transport associations, religious leaders, pensioners, senior folk singers, Sikh representatives, RTI activists and leaders from various political parties.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over Jammu’s limited share of the burgeoning tourism industry and laid out plans to diversify the region’s economy.
“Over one crore pilgrims visit Mata Vaishno Devi annually, but we have yet to tap into even 15% of this potential to promote tourism in Jammu. If we can redirect a fraction of these pilgrims, Jammu’s economy can transform,” he noted.
He announced plans to establish a craft & culture fair modeled on the Surajkund Mela, to showcase the region’s rich heritage and boost tourism. The initiative will involve collaboration between industries, farmers, cultural representatives and tourism stakeholders, he stated.
Omar highlighted several key issues raised during the interaction and outlined his Government’s commitment to addressing them.
He said that Smart City projects are nearing completion and there is no scope for this Government to do any course correction but we shall take new initiatives for Jammu and Srinagar, which aim to modernize the city’s infrastructure and enhance its livability.
The Government, he said, will resolve the shortage of Punjabi teachers in schools catering to Sikh children and address some of their genuine concerns.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community, the Chief Minister stated, “While their return depends on restoring a sense of security among the community, we are committed to improving their living conditions and addressing their grievances.”
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for regular dialogue with civil Society to maintain a pulse on ground realities. Unlike in the past, when such meetings were convened only during crises, he committed to holding biannual interactions-twice each in both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar thanked the participants for accepting his invitation, emphasizing the significance of such meetings for the Government authorities to receive valuable feedback from outside four walls of their offices.
“Whether you benefit from these meetings or not, my colleagues and I certainly do. These interactions provide us with an opportunity to hear your thoughts on our work and governance directly,” he said.
Omar expressed gratitude to the participants for their valuable insights and suggestions.
“Your feedback and ground realities help us improve our governance. I hope that when we meet again, you will continue to provide your constructive input to guide us in serving Jammu and Kashmir better,” he said.
On the occasion, the Civil Society members hailed the initiative and termed it as a step towards transparent and inclusive governance, and said the much needed interaction has set the tone for fostering stronger ties between the Government and the people it serves.
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