3 K’s of Revenue: a gigantic task

JAMMU: Created more than three years ago during the Omar Abdullah-led previous government, followed by deployment of over 1500 officials over the years, most of the new administrative units are still not functional completely.
In August 2014, the government had ordered creation of 659 new administrative units in state, approved by Revenue Department and Rural Development Department, including 46 new Sub Divisions, 135 Tehsils, 177 blocks and 301 Niabats.
However, three years and over 1500 officials later, some of these new units are still not functional, as there is a demand for more man power to make them fully functional. Not to forget, there are still vacancies to be filled up at all these administrative units.
The shortage of manpower is also blamed by the officials for the delay in digitization of revenue records, even as the process going on and efforts are being made to complete it at the earliest.
The digitization up to the extent of three K’s of Revenue records- Khata, Khabit and Khaka- is, reportedly, a mountainous task that lies ahead of the officials, and this was admitted by them in a meeting convened by Department Related Standing Committee (DRSC-I) of State Legislative Council held on Wednesday to review the functioning of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation department.
“The land records to the extent of Khata, Khabit and Khaka etc are being brought under the digitization, modernization and up-dation programme, but being the voluminous task, it will take some more time get done,” the revenue officials asserted in the meeting.
The meeting had, earlier, started on a rather interesting note as the meeting’s agenda was not circulated to the committee chairman MLC, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and its members Legislators, Aga Syed Mahmood-ul-Mosavi, Mohammad Khursheed Alam and Girdhari Lal Raina who attended the meeting.
In the presence of Commissioner Secretary, Revenue Department, Shahid Anayatullah and Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Lokesh Jha, the committee didn’t shy away from making clear their resentment as they expressed that the information interims of agenda points should have been facilitated to the Chairman and members well in advance.
It was then that the officials revealed the aforementioned information to the committee.
Earlier, the issues of Disaster Management including measures taken up for the safety of people during eventuality/disasters were also discussed.
Other issues related to the department including service issues were also discussed in detail and the concerned officer assured the Committee for their early redressal.
The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr. M K Bhandari, Commissioner Secretary, DMRR, Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Regional Director S&LR, Jammu Rifat Kohli, Special Secretary Legislative Council, Abdul Majid Wani, Deputy Secretary Legislative Council, Ali Mohammad Rawat, senior officers of Council Secretariat besides concerned officers of Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation Department.