On Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched Jammu and Kashmir’s first online Right to Information (RTI) portal, designed to streamline access to government information.
Unveiled at the Civil Secretariat, the J&K RTI online portal represents a major step toward improving transparency and accountability in the state’s governance.
In his speech, the CM praised the officials who developed the portal, highlighting its potential to revolutionize the RTI application process for citizens. “This initiative will provide easy access to government information under the RTI Act, enabling citizens to obtain information in a quicker, more transparent, and cost-effective way,” he remarked.
He also urged the relevant authorities to promote the initiative widely so that people across Jammu and Kashmir can fully benefit from it.
The portal, created by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) J&K, shifts the RTI process from a manual system to an online platform. This transition allows citizens to file RTI requests, track their progress, and receive responses electronically, removing the need for in-person visits to government offices.
The launch ceremony was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar, along with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries, and senior government officials.
Earlier, M. Raju, Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD), presented an overview of the portal’s features, emphasizing its accessibility, efficiency, and role in enhancing accountability. He outlined key functionalities, including the portal’s user-friendly interface, simplified RTI processing, and comprehensive documentation capabilities.
A standout feature of the portal is the generation of a registration number for applicants via SMS and email, making it easier to track RTI requests. The platform also connects 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3,419 Public Information Officers (PIOs) and Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs), ensuring broad coverage and keeping citizens informed about government activities.
