LG Sinha Felicitates Winners of CIPS Awards, Calls for Innovation and Inclusive Governance in J&K
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today felicitated the winners of the Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS) Awards at a ceremony in Srinagar, commending their transformative contributions to public governance.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor extended his heartiest congratulations to the awardees, noting that the CIPS Awards celebrate initiatives that drive rapid social and economic progress and inspire others to become agents of change. He praised the courage and dedication of individuals who have brought positive change across sectors like health, education, information technology, and rural development, significantly impacting the lives of citizens.
“Civil servants, engineers, doctors, scientists, and technocrats form the backbone of our administration. Their impartiality, honesty, efficiency, and fearlessness are our most valuable assets. I am proud that, as a team, they have worked tirelessly to serve the people and contribute to nation-building,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Shri Sinha highlighted the role of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership in fostering innovative governance and making government more responsive to citizens’ needs. “The Prime Minister’s mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ has improved citizens’ ease of living and ensured seamless delivery of public services. Today, India is not only the world’s fastest-growing economy but is also well poised for sustained economic development,” he added.
Urging officials to strengthen policy implementation, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized the importance of managing complex challenges and responding effectively to disruptive changes. “The voice of the people must be the soul of government policy. Policies cannot be drafted in offices alone; they must be shaped on the ground, reflecting citizens’ needs and suggestions. A file is more than paper—it contains the lives and futures of thousands. Our actions must tangibly improve citizens’ lives,” he said.
Speaking on the role of technology, Shri Sinha said, “In the age of Artificial Intelligence, change is the only constant. We must leverage emerging technologies to enhance decision-making, citizen engagement, and the quality of public services. Innovations in Government-to-Citizen and Government-to-Business services in J&K are already paving the way for better governance.”
The Lieutenant Governor also lauded District Administration Ganderbal for its innovative environmental initiatives and cited examples of changemakers like Jairaj Bhattacharya, founder of EdTech startup ConveGenius, and Shri Swapneel Paul, Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia, Assam, who have successfully implemented impactful solutions on the ground.
He called on bureaucrats and technocrats to develop new tools, adopt innovative approaches, and drive societal transformation through technology. Highlighting specific initiatives, he recommended adopting the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s model to enhance mid-day meals in government schools and emphasized the need for technology-driven solutions in agriculture to mitigate climate-related challenges. He also noted that the 29 reformative projects under the Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) could be adapted for implementation in other states and UTs.
The felicitation ceremony was attended by Shri Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr. N. Ramesh Kumar, Director General, Administrative Staff College of India; Dr. Valli Manickam, Director, CIPS; Shri M Raju, Commissioner Secretary GAD; Ms. Rehana Batul, Director J&K IMPARD; along with senior administrative officials and domain experts.
