‘Implement IoT Solutions for Water Supply Management’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo emphasized the need for a robust grievance portal to assist individuals facing challenges in securing loans from financial institutions for starting businesses or pursuing self-employment initiatives during a meeting today. The gathering was attended by the Principal Secretary of Finance, Principal Secretary of Agriculture, Commissioner Secretary of Industries and Commerce, Secretary of Labour and Employment, Secretary of Public Works, Convenor of UTLBC, along with representatives from various banks and other relevant officials.
Dulloo recognized that improving the Ease of Doing Business in the Union Territory hinges significantly on effective credit linkage, which is vital for entrepreneurs looking to establish or expand their ventures. He pointed out that any obstacles encountered in the credit application process can hinder their business ambitions.
He urged financial institutions to simplify their credit-linkage procedures to empower aspiring entrepreneurs. Dulloo instructed the creation of a grievance resolution platform, incorporating government personnel and designated representatives from each bank, ensuring individuals could promptly address their issues.
He also acknowledged the widespread reach of social security initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), and the Atal Pension Yojana, along with other schemes designed for financial inclusion in J&K.
Dulloo urged financial institutions to actively provide these benefits to the citizens of the Union Territory. Additionally, he tasked the Finance Department with exploring ways to link death records to these accounts, allowing death benefits to promptly reach eligible heirs or nominees upon the recording of such events.
In pursuit of universal financial inclusion and increased digital transaction adoption, he called for the coverage of all panchayats via Business Correspondents. He also encouraged leveraging the data gathered from the recent survey of approximately 550,000 youths under Mission YUVA.
On the topic of priority sector lending, the Chief Secretary called for enhanced credit flow into the agriculture sector and highlighted the need for improved performance in term loans.
In another meeting focused on the Jal Shakti Department (JSD), the Chief Secretary discussed leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) technology in water supply systems to enhance service delivery to consumers.
The meeting included the Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department, the Commissioner Secretary of IT, the CEO of JaKeGA, Chief Engineers, and other departmental officials.
Dulloo noted that the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to ensure access to drinking water for all rural households, indicating that vast assets valued in crores have been established under this Central Sector Scheme to provide adequate drinking water for the rural population.
He stressed the importance of measuring the outputs set under this scheme and monitoring service quality provided to the community. He suggested that modern technologies, like IT, AI, and IoT, which tend to be more accurate and efficient, should be utilized to meet these objectives.
Reiterating the commitment to supplying drinking water to nearly 1.9 million households once the scheme is completed, he mentioned that consistently monitoring service quality and scheme functionality is essential for ensuring regular and adequate water supply.
He recommended first implementing this system on a pilot basis in a selected district to assess its efficiency. This could potentially enhance departmental capabilities and serve as a model for broader application across the Union Territory.
Dulloo highlighted several key indicators such as water quality, quantity, timing, duration, and pressure that should be monitored daily. He proposed integrating this system with a dashboard that would offer real-time information about each water supply scheme.
The Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, presented a comprehensive overview of the system under consideration and the expected outcomes post-installation.
