J&K to set up 44 digital villages, improve cities

The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the setting up of 44 digital villages in the state as a one-stop IT solution at the village level.

An official statement said, “The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved implementation of the J&K Digital Village programme through Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency ( JaKeGA), with the motto ‘Back to Village via Digital Means,’ after observing the stupendous response of the people”.

It said the existing Gram Panchayat building will be designated as Digital Village Centre (DVC). The centres will be provided with various facilities including Smart LEDs, Computers, Screens, internet and other relevant facilities.

“The Village Level Workers (VLWs) of the Rural Development Department will be the custodians of the DVCs; responsible for overall management of the centres so established and shall also ensure security of the centres,” it said.

“The DVCs will provide “One Stop Service Solution’ at the village level and provide services like Wi-Fi Hotspots, telemedicine, agricultural support services, digital payments and other G2C/B2C services,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, to address the developmental challenges of the rapidlygrowing Srinagar and Jammu cities, the state government announced setting up of two metropolitan region development authorities.

An official said: “Under the Jammu and Kashmir metropolitan region development authorities Act 2018, two umbrella authorities - Jammu Metropolitan region development authority and Srinagar metropolitan region development authority - have been established”.

Besides infrastructure, through consultative exercise with police, municipal corporations and the deputy commissioners, these authorities will form a comprehensive mobility management plan, sources said.

“The new authorities will have to prepare a sustainable management plan for the urban environment such as increasing the area under green cover, water conservation, waste water treatment, water recycling, water harvesting, energy conservation, adoption of renewal sources of energy, provision of open spaces and city parks,” they said.

Two mass rapid transit corporations (MRTCs), one for each city, were incorporated in February this year, intended to introduce metro services in these twin cities.