CM Omar unveils J&K’s first online RTI portal

Jammu, Jan 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday unveiled Jammu and Kashmir’s first online Right to Information (RTI) portal, which is meant to simplify access to government information.

CM Omar launched the J&K Right to Information (RTI) online portal at the civil secretariat, marking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in governance.

In his address, he congratulated the officers involved in developing the portal, emphasising its transformative potential in simplifying the RTI application process for citizens.

“This initiative will provide easy access to government information under the RTI Act, empowering citizens with a faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient mechanism,” the CM said.

He also urged the concerned authorities to ensure widespread publicity of the initiative so that citizens across J&K become aware of its benefits.

Developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) J&K, the portal introduces a shift from manual to online RTI applications.

This transition enables citizens to submit RTI requests, track their status, and receive responses electronically, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices.

The launch event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, cabinet ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, and Javed Ahmad Dar.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, administrative secretaries, and senior officers were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Secretary General Administration Department (GAD), M Raju, delivered a presentation on the portal’s features, highlighting its accessibility, convenience, speed of processing, cost efficiency, and role in promoting accountability.

He outlined the portal’s key functionalities, including its user-friendly interface, streamlined RTI workflow, and robust documentation features.

A unique feature of the portal is the issuance of a registration number to applicants via SMS and email for future reference, enabling easy tracking of RTI applications.

The portal integrates 61 government departments, 272 nodal officers and public authorities, 720 First Appellate Authorities (FAAs), and 3419 Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs), and Public Information Officers (PIOs), ensuring comprehensive coverage and making the citizens informed about the activities of the government.