Amid escalating tensions along the India-Pakistan border, the Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed eight senior IAS and IPS officers as mentors for key border districts. This initiative aims to bolster administrative oversight, enhance coordination among civil and security agencies, and ensure the provision of essential services in these sensitive areas.
Appointed Mentors and Their Assigned Districts:
1. Jammu: Shaleen Kabra, IAS – Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department
2. Poonch: Shailendra Kumar, IAS – Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production Department
3. Kathua: Sanjeev Verma, IAS – Commissioner/Secretary, Social Welfare Department
4. Samba: Vikramjit Singh, IPS – Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department
5. Rajouri: Bhupinder Kumar, IAS – Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department
6. Baramulla: Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, IAS – Commissioner/Secretary, Labour and Employment Department
7. Kupwara: Sarmad Hafeez, IAS – Commissioner/Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department
8. Bandipora: Owais Ahmed, IAS – Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation
These officers are tasked with:
Guiding district administrations in relief, rescue, and rehabilitation operations.
Reviewing and ensuring the security of vital installations.
Facilitating coordination among civil, police, army, and other agencies.
Ensuring the availability of essential services like water, electricity, communication, and road connectivity.
Monitoring the supply of essential commodities such as food grains, petrol, diesel, and LPG.
Addressing issues faced by district administrations by coordinating with relevant departments and, if necessary, escalating matters to the Civil Secretariat or the Chief Secretary’s office.
This strategic move underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining stability and ensuring effective governance in the Union Territory’s border regions during these challenging times.
