Over the years, the Jammu and Kashmir government’s initiative of holding “Awami Durbars” across villages, towns, and cities has been a good step towards stronger public outreach and engagement. These open forums have provided useful platforms for citizens to directly voice their concerns, grievances, and aspirations for development to government officials. This direct interaction has considerably helped in enhancing accountability, transparency, and responsiveness within the J&K administration.
The J&K administration has taken a slew of significant measures over the last few years to improve governance through automation of systems, process streamlining, and IT-enabled citizen services. Feedback from the general masses suggests that these initiatives have contributed significantly in reducing red tape and bringing ease to people in accessing government services in an efficient manner. All these changes have helped to transform J&K administration to a more efficient and accessible government, empowering citizens to navigate services with greater ease.
However, amidst these positive developments, a question arises regarding the terminology used for some of these public meetings – “Awami Darbar.” As we would appreciate, the term “darbar” carries historical baggage, evoking images of public audiences held by monarchs in medieval times in the country. In a modern democratic context, the term carries connotations of hierarchy and power imbalance, potentially undermining the very spirit of citizen participation and equal footing that the Awami Durbars aim to achieve.
While the intent behind the term “Awami Darbar” is undoubtedly positive, its association with a bygone era of feudalistic rule can create an unintended feeling of subservience among citizens. This can hinder genuine and open communication, potentially discouraging people from raising critical issues or voicing dissent. Times have changed, so has the demographic composition of the general population. At least 50% of J&K’s population comprises young people, who have their own aspirations of progress and wellbeing and are influenced modern-day influences of equality, rule of law and democratic values. Therefore, all the more important to make administrative engagement with young people more relevant to their tastes and expectations. It may be worthwhile for the J&K government to consider adopting a more contemporary and democratic term for these public meetings. Terms like Awami Mulaqat (Public Dialogue), “Awami Sunwai” (Public Hearing), etc could serve as effective alternatives, emphasizing the two-way communication and equal participation that these meetings strive for. By making this seemingly minor change in terminology, the J&K government can further strengthen its commitment to good governance and citizen engagement.
A more democratic term for these public meetings would not only resonate better with the spirit of the times but also create a more conducive environment for open dialogue and participatory decision-making, ultimately contributing to a more empowered and engaged citizenry. J&K’s Awami Durbars represent a positive step towards increased transparency and responsiveness. However, by adopting a more democratic and contemporary term for these public meetings, the government can further strengthen its commitment to inclusivity and participatory governance, setting a new standard for citizen engagement in the region.
