About the Jammu and Kashmir Regional Branch
Jammu and Kashmir Regional Branch is one amongst 23 Regional Branches and 44 Local Branches of the parent body Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi established throughout the country to promote and provide for the study and imparting of training related to Public Administration and the machinery of Government. This objective is being achieved through research, training programs, workshops, seminars, lectures, maintenance of libraries and information systems, publications and cooperation with other institutions to help the cause of public administration.
The Regional Branch has members from amongst Government Officials, academia and the civil society. It provides a platform to practitioners of public administration, academia and the civil society for an open and frank discussion on contemporary issues related to public administration. To achieve this, the Regional Branch has established strong linkages with academicians, researchers and students in the Universities of the State, State administration including Jammu and Kashmir police, intellectuals from different disciplines, PSUs, NGOs and prominent citizens.
History
The first traces of IIPA in the state of Jammu and Kashmir date back to September 1963 when a Local Branch of IIPA was inaugurated at Srinagar by the then Director of IIPA Prof V.K.N.Menon, with Dr N.Agha IAS elected as the first Chairman. No records of activities during those initial days are forthcoming.
The J&K Regional Branch came into existence in the year 1978 and soon after a membership drive was launched. All activities were carried out from PWD Bungalow no: 1, the official residence of Shri Veeranna Aivalli IPS. We had telegraphic address registered as “PRASHASAN” and Post Box Number 88. In September 1981, Dr.P.R. Dubashi I.A.S, then Director IIPA New Delhi visited Srinagar and advised that despite limited membership, steps be taken to organize lecture-meetings etc. The meeting of existing members, 75 in number, was called on 5th December, 1981 at Srinagar and on 14th December, 1981 at Jammu.
The first Executive committee was constituted with Shri M. Rahman, IAS as chairman and Shri Veeranna Aivalli IPS as Hony Secretary. Shri Choube, then Divisional Manager of United Commercial Bank Srinagar was elected as the Treasurer, Shri G.H. Kaloo as Jt Secretary Kashmir and Shri T.P.Singh as Jt Secretary for Jammu.
The first academic activity was held on December 26, 1981 with an audio-visual display and lecture by Dr. A.K.Nagpal, then project Director of Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, Srinagar on the subject “Health Project Planning- Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar”.
The Regional Branch entered into a MoU with the University of Jammu on February 8, 2006 to establish a “Centre of Excellence in Public Administration and Management Studies”. This has provided opportunity for cross cultural exchanges between the academia and public administrators.
The Regional Branch operates from its own premises in Jammu which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on April 21, 2008. In Srinagar, the state Government has provided office space for the Regional Branch in the Old Secretariat Complex.
A Souvenir entitled “35 Years of J&K Regional Branch” published in October 2013 is available on this site for readers desiring to know more about the Branch.
Byelaws, funding and governance
The Regional Branch is a registered entity vide no: 5027-S of 2007 under the J&K Societies Registration Act. In terms of Rules 26 and 27 of byelaws of the parent body IIPA New Delhi, the byelaws governing the functioning of the Regional Branch were adopted by the General Body in its meeting on January 8, 2005.
The management of the Regional Branch is entrusted in an Executive Committee elected biannually.
The Regional Branch receives an annual grant from the State Government and maintains a close liaison with the GAD in pursuance to its objective of capacity building for good governance. The accounts are regularly being got audited as required by the bye-laws of IIPA, New Delhi and the Regional Branch. AGMs are held every year in the month of January.
