Jammu, Feb 28 (KNO): Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today stressed the need for holding a comprehensive stakeholders’ conference to ensure smooth, time-bound and effective implementation of reform-oriented deregulations introduced under the ‘Reduction of Compliance Burden’ initiative aimed at strengthening Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) across Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary was chairing a high-level review meeting to assess the progress achieved under Phase-II of the Ease of Doing Business reforms and subsequently reviewed the District Business Reforms Action Plan (D-BRAP) in a separate session. These reforms are being implemented under the guidance of the Government of India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
The meeting, coordinated by the Industries & Commerce Department, was attended by the Administrative Secretaries and senior officers including ACS, Power Development Department; ACS, Agriculture Production Department and Tourism; ACS, Finance; Principal Secretary, Home; Commissioner Secretaries of FCS&CA, Forests, Housing & Urban Development, Industries & Commerce and Law; Secretary, Labour & Employment; Secretary, Transport; Director, Industries, Jammu; and other concerned officers.
Taking a comprehensive department-wise review of services and reform parameters mandated under EoDB-II and D-BRAP, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of bringing all public and private stakeholders on board.
He directed the Industries & Commerce Department to convene a stakeholders’ conference at the earliest to sensitize entrepreneurs, industry representatives, district officials and service providers about their roles and responsibilities under the revised framework.
He observed that significant progress has been made in notifying designated services under the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA), with clearly defined timelines for delivery. He stressed that all such services had been made available strictly through online mode, as envisaged under the D-BRAP framework, ensuring transparency, accountability and reduced physical interface.
The Chief Secretary further advised the department to draw upon the successful model of Mission YUVA, where a Single Business Development Unit (SBDU) is already operational. He suggested upgrading this mechanism into a more robust institutional support system to create a conducive ecosystem for innovation, entrepreneurship and investment across the Union Territory.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to reform-driven governance, the Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure complete implementation of the prescribed reforms within the next three months without fail. He emphasized that the pace of reform must not slacken and that tangible results must be achieved under all circumstances.
Calling for seamless coordination from the grassroots to the highest administrative level, he stressed that the reforms must translate into real benefits for businesses and citizens by simplifying procedures, minimizing compliance requirements and enhancing service delivery standards.
Commissioner Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Vikramjit Singh, presented the overall framework of D-BRAP and informed the meeting that 46 services have been identified by DPIIT for mandatory digitization.
He further added that these services have already been notified under the PSGA, are being delivered through online platforms and are being monitored through a real-time dashboard by the concerned authorities in accordance with the scheme’s requirements.
Director, Industries, Jammu, Arun Manhas, apprised the meeting of the department-wise categorization of services and outlined the specific responsibilities of departments and district administrations for their effective implementation. He presented the current online status of each service along with their PSGA notification status.
It was informed that a real-time monitoring dashboard, developed in compliance with DPIIT guidelines, showcases key components of both e-services and inspection modules, enabling effective oversight and performance tracking.
The meeting was also informed that DPIIT has launched D-BRAP 2025 comprising 154 reform points to be implemented by all States and Union Territories. All concerned departments in J&K have been tasked with developing new or modifying existing services to ensure 100 percent compliance by March 31, 2026.
The D-BRAP framework encompasses a broad spectrum of citizen-centric and business-related services. These include land demarcation and boundary verification, change in land use permissions, property registration and mutation, digitization of land records, approvals and registrations for setting up play schools and private educational institutions, and issuance of Mandi licenses (APMC).
The reforms also mandate online issuance of licenses and permissions for establishment of health clinics and diagnostic centres, goods and passenger transport permits, new electricity connections, building plan approvals, demolition and reconstruction permissions, certificates of vending for street vendors, parking licenses, No Objection Certificates for hotels, restaurants and entertainment establishments, water supply connections, and shop and establishment registrations, among others.
In addition, the action plan seeks to strengthen District Industries Centres and promote development of industrial parks to attract sector-specific investments. The overarching objective is to create an enabling, investor-friendly ecosystem at the district level, fostering sustainable economic growth and employment generation across Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary reiterated that these reforms are aimed at transforming governance through digitization, transparency and time-bound service delivery, thereby positioning Jammu & Kashmir as a competitive and investment-ready destination for all times to come—(KNO)