Technological innovations and electronic revolution throughout the globe has made it possible for people to access any type of information just by sitting home or not walking or travelling to the spot to get such information. Software used in computers, mobile phones, tablets etc keeps on changing for the better, day in and day out, to enable access to information instantaneously and also whenever the same was sought. Apps or Applications on the other hand allow and facilitate to perform specific tasks . When an App was ‘opened’ , it runs into the operating system until one chose to close it. Why not to have such Apps for personnel and human resources development objectives to achieve better results ? In most parts of the country , information technological culture has started becoming a part of routine now. Transfer of money , payment of bills, downloading forms and applications, accessing information for filing certain returns and statements etc like activities are undertaken through various such Apps across the country while Jammu and Kashmir, though making good strides in the area continues to be not evenly benefitted simply because of the fact of lack of interest , knowledge and various other factors.
With the prelude as in the aforesaid lines, a decision to introduce a salary App for the employees of Jammu and Kashmir was given a practical shape recently by the Lieutenant Governor by launching an App called as ‘MeraVetan’ (Version 1) at Raj Bhawan in presence of many top officers and bureaucrats . This App is all about the information in respect of salary particulars and allied information – a salary tracker mobile App. This App was launched for the benefit of the employees of the Jammu and Kashmir Government departments who were from now onwards set to know any information about their salary from the said App. In the absence of this facility , they used to know salary related information from the DDO only and those sections of the employees who were posted at far flung areas and remote places are increasingly benefitted as they were finding it practically difficult to have the related information updated in respect of their salaries .
While employees must be hailing such a decision of the Government, it is all the more necessary that all other particulars and information about their personnel matters too must be provided through such Apps to know for example, their seniority number, next increment date and whether sanctioned or not , annual appraisal formats and various other vital information for knowing which, they otherwise have to visit offices in person involving time and botheration. It is not that the scope of such Apps be kept limited to employees only but extended to social welfare related measures, scholarships, etc so as to track details about social security pensions disbursement and scholarship payments related information which could be known just sitting at home by using the concerned App about which the LieutenantGovernor not only made a mention but desired such Apps be constantly up-graded and modified. This is so as to have information like calculation of income tax and generation of Form -16 for filing income tax return etc. The general public too could be brought under its ambit so that crowds at offices and counters were avoided besides the process being hassles free was in the public interest.
How to surf and access the Android based App, the details and guidelines are separately given by the Government which are quite simple and easy. An employee sitting anywhere can view one’s details of salary anytime which after every month shall be updated after payment from the treasury . Monthly salary slip could be easily and quickly got by an employee thus reducing , if not avoiding the load on the Drawing and Disbursing Office (DDO). Such changes for convenience and getting timely information through various Apps were going to be quite useful and heralding of a new convenient and fast system of obtaining information.