J&K govt nominates bureaucrats as district mentors

Srinagar, May 9: The Jammu and Kashmir government today ordered the nomination of senior officers as mentors for various districts to strengthen administrative coordination and support ongoing relief, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts.

Notably, this order follows the government order No. 572-JK (GAD) dated May 8, 2025, stating that the initiative is to ensure effective governance across the Union Territory.

The nominated officers, as per the order issued by the Lieutenant Governor comprises senior IAS, IFS, and JKAS officials who have been assigned specific districts to oversee critical operations.

The appointments include Shantmanu, IAS, Financial Commissioner, Higher Education Department, as mentor for district Srinagar, H Rajesh Prasad, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government, Power Development Department for district Budgam, Santosh Dattatraya Vaidya, IAS, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, for Pulwama, Brij Mohan Sharma, IFS Principal Secretary to Government, Department of Culture for Ramban, Saurabh Bhagat, IAS Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Science and Technology Department for Ganderbal, and Sheetal Nanda, IAS, Commissioner/Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment for Udhampur.

Other appointments include Neeraj Kumar, IAS Administrative Secretary, Transport Department for district Kulgam, Prasanna Ramaswamy G, IAS Secretary to the Government, Tribal Affairs Department for Shopian, Talat Parvez Rohella, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department for Doda, Mohd Aijaz, IAS, Secretary to the Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj for Kishtwar, Zubair Ahmad, JKAS Commissioner/Secretary for the Government, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs for Anantnag, and Babila Rakwal, JKAS, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Cooperative Department for Reasi.

The mentors, as per the order, have been tasked with frequent district visits to guide local administrations, review security arrangements for vital installations, and ensure the availability of essential services like drinking water, electricity, communication, and road connectivity.

The mentors have been assigned to also monitor the supply of essential commodities, including food grains, vegetables, petrol, diesel, and LPG, while resolving administrative challenges by coordinating with relevant departments and, if necessary, escalating issues to the Civil Secretariat or the Chief Secretary’s office.

Additionally, the mentors have been assigned to facilitate seamless coordination between civil, police, army, and other agencies operating within their assigned districts.