INTERACTION ON “CREATING & SUSTAINING A STRONG BOND BETWEEN CITIZENS AND GOVERNMENT”

On a suggestion by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, J&K Regional branch of the IIPA organized an interaction between Asian Center for Organization Research and Development(ACORD) and State Government Officials on March 16, 2012 from 5 pm to 7 pm at the Seminar Hall of IIPA, J&K Regional branch, on the subject “Creating and sustaining a strong bond between Citizens and Government”.

2.       Hon’ble Chief Minister, Jenab Omar Abdullah was the Chief Guest and Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister, J&K , Shri Tara Chand was the Guest of Honour. A number of  Cabinet Minister, Ministers of State, Commissioner/Secretaries to Govt. and Heads of concerned Departments attended this interaction. Besides, Members of IIPA, J&K Regional branch and Media also participated in this interaction.

3.       Prof. M.D.G. Koreth, Chairman and Dr (Ms) Kiron Wadhera, Member Board of Governors ACORD, gave a presentation on the advantages of the “Large Group Interactive Process” They shared their success story as a professional consultancy service in working with the Govt of Delhi on “Bhagidari” programme since the year 2000.

4.       The focus of ACORD is an improving various civic services and good governance in cities and towns through a partnership between the Citizens and Officials and focuses on reliable process of participatory development by involving all stakeholders.

5.       Dr. Ashok Bhan, Chairman, IIPA J&K Regional branch in his welcome address thanked Hon’ble Chief Minister and Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister for sparing their precious time to attend this interaction. He also gave a brief resume of the activities conducted by J&K Regional branch of IIPA during the year 2011.

6.       Hon’ble Chief Minister in his speech said that the Government intends to build a sustained and positive partnership with the citizens on a continuous basis to bring about a meaningful change in the governance concept making it participatory with common people. He said that he is keen to transform the relationship of people with the Government from present ‘complainants and critics status’ to partners and collaborators in the process of development and responsibility. He said that involving and including people in a meaningful way in good governance particularly at the civic services level is need of the hour. Chief Minister said “gone are the days when people used to have patience and wait for long drawn development processes”, presently they are not interested to hear the political and historic tales from the politicians and they are eager to know about the policy programme of the Government, its fast implementation on ground and results thereof.  He was, people want to know what Government has done for them. What it is doing and what are its future plans.? “This kind of situation calls for participatory governance so that people are associated in the process of development at all levels” , he said , adding that a sporadic and one time grievance meetings between the Government and the citizens taking place at present to sort out problems  has to give way to building a positive partnership  between the Government and the people on a basis.  

7.  This interaction was followed by a question-answer session and Prof.M.D.G.Koreth and Dr(Ms)Kiron Wadhera gave answers to various questions put to them by the members of the civil society and Heads of the Government departments who were present on the occasion.