Recognise the hands behind AgriStack: An open letter to J&K Chief Minister

By the Patwaris of Jammu & Kashmir

Hon’ble Chief Minister,

We write this open letter with humility, hope and a deep sense of responsibility on behalf of the Patwaris of Jammu & Kashmir.

Jammu & Kashmir is presently undertaking one of its most significant assignments in agricultural governance—the implementation of AgriStack. Across the Union Territory, Patwaris are working extensively to collect, verify, reconcile and upload agricultural and land-related information.

This is not simply another exercise in data entry or another government portal to be completed. It is a complex field-level exercise requiring accuracy, revenue knowledge, technical competence, ground verification and continuous interaction with farmers.

Behind every digital record is a Patwari who has travelled to the field, examined revenue records, identified land parcels, interacted with landholders and attempted to ensure that what is entered into the system corresponds with the reality on the ground.

Beyond the traditional image of a Patwari

The traditional image of a Patwari as a revenue official maintaining registers and conducting field inspections no longer adequately describes the responsibilities of the post.

The modern Patwari works with digitised Jamabandies, online revenue platforms, cadastral information, land databases, geographical information and technology-driven government programmes. The responsibilities have expanded considerably—and so have the consequences of an error.

A wrong entry in an agricultural or land record is not merely a technical mistake. It can affect a farmer’s access to benefits, the accuracy of official records, future land transactions and administrative decisions.

That is why field-level revenue work today demands not only diligence and accountability, but also technical competence.

AgriStack has brought this transformation into sharp focus.

Patwaris are required to identify and verify land and agricultural information, reconcile records, examine ground realities, interact with farmers, resolve discrepancies and ensure that data entered into the system is as accurate as possible.

These tasks require field knowledge, patience, long hours and an increasingly sophisticated understanding of both revenue administration and technology.

Behind every percentage is human effort

Many Patwaris are working beyond normal office hours and, wherever required, around the clock to meet demanding timelines.

Their objective is not merely to achieve a percentage on a dashboard.

Their objective is to ensure that the data being created today becomes a reliable foundation for tomorrow’s agricultural governance.

It is therefore important to look beyond the numbers.

If Jammu & Kashmir succeeds in completing a substantial portion of the AgriStack exercise, the achievement will belong not only to the technology, software or administrative system. It will also belong to the men and women who have worked in villages and fields to make that system functional.

Behind every completed digital record is a person.

Behind every percentage on a dashboard is human effort.

A long-standing demand for technical grade pay

Hon’ble Chief Minister, this brings us to a long-standing request of the Patwari fraternity—the grant of Technical Grade Pay.

We respectfully submit that this demand should not be viewed simply as a request for an additional financial benefit or as a reward for performing routine government duties.

Patwaris understand their responsibilities as government servants and have consistently endeavoured to discharge them sincerely.

The issue is one of recognising the changing nature of the post.

The Patwari today stands at the intersection of land, agriculture, technology and citizens. The position requires familiarity with traditional revenue practices alongside digital systems, land databases, mapping processes and technology-based government programmes.

AgriStack has once again demonstrated this transformation.

The demand for Technical Grade Pay is therefore about recognising the technical character, complexity and accountability attached to the work being performed.

The official closest to the citizen

The Patwari occupies a unique position in the administrative system because the post is directly connected with the citizen at the grassroots.

When a farmer has a question concerning his land, cultivation or revenue record, the Patwari is often among the first officials approached.

When a new government initiative reaches a village, the Patwari is frequently required to translate an administrative objective into ground-level reality.

This proximity to citizens comes with enormous responsibility.

It also requires officials to continuously adapt to new technologies, new databases, new reporting systems and increasingly complex administrative expectations.

That responsibility deserves institutional recognition.

Recognise responsibility as governance evolves

We respectfully request your good office to examine the long-standing demand of the Patwari fraternity sympathetically and consider the grant of Technical Grade Pay in recognition of the technical and field-oriented nature of the service.

Such a decision would send a meaningful message across the Revenue Department: when responsibilities evolve and professional demands increase, the Government also recognises that changing role.

The Patwaris of Jammu & Kashmir have never sought to avoid responsibility.

Whenever the administration has entrusted them with challenging assignments, they have stepped forward. AgriStack is another example of that commitment.

As the Government evaluates the progress of this important initiative, we humbly request that it also acknowledge the human effort behind the figures—the countless hours spent in villages, field visits, verification exercises, data entry, corrections, coordination with farmers and the personal sacrifices made to meet demanding timelines.

Recognition, not sympathy

The Patwaris do not seek sympathy.

They seek recognition.

They do not ask for a privilege detached from responsibility. They seek an appropriate grade commensurate with the technical nature and expanding responsibilities of their service.

We remain committed to serving the people of Jammu & Kashmir and supporting every initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural records, improving governance and making public services more efficient and transparent.

But we also hope that when the administration looks at the achievements of AgriStack, it will remember those who stood in the fields, worked with farmers, examined records, handled technology and carried the responsibility of getting the data right.

Hon’ble Chief Minister, this is our humble appeal:

Recognise the work.
Recognise the responsibility.
Recognise the technical character of the Patwari’s service.

A decision on Technical Grade Pay would not merely address a long-pending demand. It would reaffirm a larger principle—that as governance evolves and the responsibilities of public servants become more complex, their changing professional role deserves appropriate institutional recognition.

With hope and respect,

The Patwaris of Jammu & Kashmir