SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired a high-level meeting to discuss the modalities for operationalizing the newly established Lieutenant Governor’s Sainik Sahayta Kendra (SSK) in the Civil Secretariat at Jammu and Srinagar. The Kendra, set up through a recent order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), is envisioned as a dedicated grievance redressal and support platform for serving the soldiers associated with Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Home; Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir; Secretaries of Tribal Affairs Department (TAD), Information Technology and Law and Deputy Commissioners either in person or virtually. The Chief Secretary reviewed the proposal presented by the Administrative Secretary heading the Kendra. He emphasized the need for a robust and responsive system to cater to the needs of the soldiers.

To ensure smooth implementation and oversight, he directed for constitution of a Steering Committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Home Department. The Commissioner Secretary, GAD will serve as a member and the Secretary, TAD, as the Member Secretary, being the administrative head of the Kendra. The Home Department was designated as the Nodal Department for the Kendra, acting as the primary liaison between civil and military establishments.

The Chief Secretary also directed for appointment of an Additional Secretary-level officer in the Home Department to exclusively handle the matters related to the SSK. Highlighting the importance of technology-driven grievance redressal, Dulloo instructed the concerned departments to develop a secure digital portal for registration, tracking and feedback of grievances. He directed that the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) be onboarded for early development of the online portal. He set a deadline of August 20 for launching the portal after conducting the necessary security audits and user trials.

The Chief Secretary stressed that the portal must provide real-time access to the applicants, their Commanding Officers and concerned authorities from respective states/UTs to monitor and update the status of grievances in a transparent and time-bound manner. Principal Secretary, Home, Chandraker Bharti, underscored the need for holding awareness workshops to familiarize the stakeholders with the objectives and functioning of the Kendra. He also suggested that all States and Union Territories designate the senior nodal officers to facilitate smooth coordination and resolution of grievances of soldiers posted in or hailing from J&K.

Secretary, TAD, Prasanna Ramaswamy G, who is also the in-charge of the Sainik Sahayta Kendra, provided an overview of its establishment. He noted that the cell is tasked with addressing the domestic and service-related grievances of soldiers serving within J&K as well as those from J&K serving elsewhere in the country. He informed the meeting that the workflow for the Kendra’s operations is being finalized and strict timelines will be set for grievance redressal.

As per the GAD order, senior JKAS officers and necessary support staff, including data entry operators, have already been posted for effective functioning of the Kendra. With the upcoming launch of the portal, he said, the SSK will begin serving its intended purpose in letter and spirit.

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”.  Read the message here
In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family
A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan.IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor

       LOOK_HERE.jpg Esteemed readers, for your convenience, we have categorized our news publishing into following 👇