Reforms must reach last mile

The proposed three-month-long Reform Utsav in Jammu and Kashmir should be viewed as more than an exercise in showcasing government achievements. Its real value will depend on whether it creates a meaningful conversation between the administration and citizens about how reforms have changed everyday governance. The Chief Secretary’s emphasis that the campaign should go beyond ceremonial events is important. Government programmes are ultimately judged not by the number of workshops, brochures or public events organised, but by whether citizens receive services more efficiently, transparently and without unnecessary delays. The proposed Gram Sabhas across Panchayats offer perhaps the most useful component of the campaign. These forums can provide citizens an opportunity to understand new initiatives, raise concerns and identify priorities specific to their areas. But for this to happen, Gram Sabhas must be conducted as genuine participatory exercises rather than formal gatherings designed merely to fulfil a calendar. The administration’s decision to designate nodal officers and coordinate departments is also necessary. With multiple departments involved, poor coordination could turn a potentially useful campaign into a collection of disconnected activities. Locally relevant communication material and the deployment of field functionaries should therefore focus on information that citizens can actually use. The workshops planned in Srinagar and Jammu, including those concerning industrial beneficiaries and the New Central Sector Scheme, can similarly be useful if they provide measurable information about investment, employment and implementation rather than broad claims of transformation. The inclusion of digital justice initiatives such as Tele-Law and the Nyaya Setu AI Chatbot is another opportunity to demonstrate how technology can improve access to public services. Ultimately, Reform Utsav should leave behind more than publicity material. It should produce clearer public awareness, stronger feedback mechanisms and measurable evidence of improved service delivery. A reform campaign becomes meaningful only when citizens can recognise its impact in their daily lives.