Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held detailed deliberations with the stakeholders of the Manthan platform of the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India to deliberate upon the roadmap and institutional framework for implementing RuTAGe Smart Village Centres (RSVCs) across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was also attended by ACS, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, FCS&CA; Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Commissioner Secretary, Education; Commissioner Secretary, Science & Technology; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Director General, Rural Sanitation, besides other senior officers and concerned stakeholders.
The deliberations focused on translating the RSVC concept into a practical, outcome-oriented model suited to the diverse socio-economic and geographical requirements of J&K. The initiative envisages bringing appropriate science, technology and innovation closer to rural communities while creating avenues for entrepreneurship, skill development, livelihood enhancement, local value addition and improved delivery of services.
While speaking the Chief Secretary underscored the need for a day-long workshop to deliberate comprehensively on the possibilities, institutional arrangements and implementation strategy for the programme in the UT. He observed that such a workshop should bring together all relevant departments, universities, technology institutions, grassroots organisations and other stakeholders so that a clear and actionable roadmap is evolved.
He emphasised that developing local capacity would be crucial for ensuring that the initiative is sustained beyond its initial implementation phase and that the technologies introduced through RSVCs are adapted to local needs and translated into tangible benefits for communities.
The Chief Secretary impressed upon the Science & Technology Department to function as the nodal department for the initiative in J&K and maintain close coordination with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India, as well as other stakeholders associated with Manthan, for technology identification, institutional partnerships, capacity building and implementation support.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary highlighted several sectors having significant potential for technology-led transformation through the RSVC framework. These included hydropower, agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, hospitality, education, geriatric care and drug-abuse rehabilitation, among other areas.
The Chief Secretary further stressed the importance of convergence with existing flagship initiatives of J&K, particularly Mission YUVA and the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), so that the RSVC network can leverage established grassroots institutions, entrepreneurial ecosystems, training mechanisms and community outreach platforms.
He observed that integration with Mission YUVA could provide a strong avenue for linking technology adoption with youth entrepreneurship, innovation and employment, while convergence with JKRLM could help extend the benefits of suitable technologies to rural self-help groups, producers and livelihood-based enterprises.
Encouraging the Manthan team and all concerned departments to adopt an ambitious and outcome-oriented approach, the Chief Secretary stated that availability of funds should not become a constraint where interventions demonstrate clear and significant potential for improving the lives and livelihoods of the people. He called for focusing on technologies and interventions capable of delivering measurable outcomes and creating sustainable community-level impact.
The proposed initiative is envisaged as an important step towards creating technology-enabled rural ecosystems in J&K, connecting local needs with appropriate innovations and converting scientific and technological advancements into opportunities for livelihoods, entrepreneurship, productivity and improved quality of life across the rural areas of J&K.