24X7 call centre,new RTI,assets list each yr: Omars open govt roadmap

A call centre,an Omar Abdullah blog,a legislation to strengthen the Right to Information Act in the state and a directive to his Cabinet.

A call centre,an Omar Abdullah blog,a legislation to strengthen the Right to Information Act in the state and a directive to his Cabinet to disclose their assets. These are among J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs plans to make his government open and transparent and he plans to do them before his fledgling government completes 100 days in power.

I want every member of my government to disclose their assets every year. I will start with myself, he told The Sunday Express in an exclusive interview.

At the planned call-centrethe first CMs office to set up one20 executives will handle calls and complaints from the public. This call centre will report directly under me. We will have dedicated phone lines and complaints will be received through phone,text messages and in person, he said.

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Abdullah says he wants a stringent Right to Information Act on the lines of the Central RTI Act. We need to repeal our existing Act and bring in a fresh legislation, he said.

Abdullah will also take to blogging to get his message across. A new and exclusive website of the CM will talk of the governments policies and plans. I want to be in touch with people. I would make sure that I see every comment,every complaint myself. I will write a blog on the website as well.

The CM said he was also planning an institutional approach to put an end to human rights violations.

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Right to Information Act

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India49 min ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

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