Omar announces RFI for public scanning of Govt Deptts

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 5: Announcing yet another initiative to assess the status of delivery on various public services, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that Result Framework Initiative (RFI) to be rolled out for all Government Departments shortly would put their delivery on targets completion under public scanner.
“This would ensure assessment of the fulfilment of targets set by each department for the fiscal in accordance with the budgetary grants provided to it to complete the development schemes”, he said, adding that the information in this regard would also be in public domain for every citizen to ascertain the status of progress on realization of targets fixed by the particular department for the year.
Addressing a joint meeting of Members of Council of Ministers and Administrative Secretaries here on the opening of offices after annual Darbar Move from Srinagar to Jammu, the Chief Minister asked the Administrative Secretaries to sensitize departments under their control regarding the new initiative describing it second historic decision of the Government after Public Service Guarantee Act already under implementation in the State.
The Chief Minister said that the idea of rolling out RFI is to in-build a system of assessment of functioning of all Government Departments and upgrading public scanning on delivery of services by these departments promised to them while fixing targets of various development schemes for the year.
Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal under whose supervision the new initiative has been formulated presented resume of RFI and explained its effectiveness to improve monitoring and ensure meaningful expenditure of funds on the development front. He also explained the efficacy of this initiative to prioritize development tasks, monitor their status on regular basis and assess the performance of the departments on completion of targets fixed by each Government Department itself at the beginning of each fiscal year.
The Chief Minister asked the Administrative Secretaries to gear up rank and file at all levels and make them aware that there is in fact only one year left to fulfil the commitments made by the Government to the public on development front. “The year of 2014 will be the election year for both Parliamentary and Assembly Elections as such, whatever task left to be fulfilled by the Government on realising its commitment has to be completed well before the end of 2013”, he said and asked the Administrative Secretaries to move ahead on development process with this target in mind.
Omar Abdullah emphasized on carrying forward development process with commitment. He said response to public grievances should be prompt and effective. He also stressed on reaching out to people in every area equally and improving the quality of service. He asked the Ministers and Administrative Secretaries to constantly monitor the implementation of ongoing schemes to ensure benefits to the people within the targeted time frame.
Commissioner Secretary Information Technology, Bipul Pathak explained the mechanism and modus operandi of Jammu and Kashmir Monitoring Project prepared by the department. He also detailed its usage and utility to get updated progress of each development work under implementation in the State.
The Chief Minister said that the Ministers could monitor the status of each development work taking place across the State at their desks as super investigators under J&K Monitoring Project. He asked the Administrative Secretaries to sit with IT Department and finalize the rolling out of this module in their departments.
Earlier, Chief Minister inaugurated newly constructed light weight 4th floor on construction the existing Civil Secretariat at a cost of about Rs.1.50 crore. He also inaugurated five upgraded and computerized administrative halls of CAPD, Transport, G. P. Fund, Sheep and Animal Husbandry Departments.
Director Estates, R. K. Koul gave details of the newly created infrastructure appraising the Chief Minister of nature of the facilities created in the targeted time frame.
On arriving at Civil Secretariat, the Chief Minister was received by the Members of Council of Ministers, Advisors to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Administrative Secretaries, Civil and Police Officers, Representatives of Non-Gazetted Employees’ Union and other Government functionaries. He was given guard of honour by the contingent of J&K Police.