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I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at NEW DELHI: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Information Technology, Transport, Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma today said that Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing a “new digital dawn” where technology is empowering every citizen, transforming governance, and securing the digital future. The Minister was speaking at India Mobile Congress and Round table conference of the State IT Ministers, which was inaugurated by Union Minister for Information Technology, Jyotiradtiya Scindia.
Minister Sharma said that ongoing initiatives are not just about expanding telecom infrastructure but about building an inclusive, connected, and secure Jammu & Kashmir. “Digital connectivity today is not a privilege but a necessity, it carries education to a student in Kupwara, healthcare to a patient in Poonch and opportunities to an artisan in Anantnag,” the minister maintained.
Highlighting the digital transformation under the Amended BharatNet Project, the Minister informed that high-speed Optical Fibre Cable is being laid to connect 4,299 Gram Panchayats and 2,574 villages. He said BSNL will extend Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections to 2,234 Government Schools and 1,138 Public Health Centres across rural areas, enabling e-learning and telemedicine facilities.
Satish Sharma said that new mobile towers are also being established in remote and border areas to eliminate digital isolation. The Minister added that preparations for the 5G rollout in key urban centres are underway, which will accelerate entrepreneurship, innovation, and smart governance.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to digital safety, Satish Sharma said, “As we connect every home, we must also secure every byte of data and every citizen’s trust.” He informed that Jammu & Kashmir’s Cyber Security Policy 2022, developed in coordination with MeitY and MHA, provides a strong framework for cyber resilience.
Referring to initiatives during 2024, the minister said that the Cyber Police recovered over ₹4.7 crore for victims of online fraud through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Port while hundreds of cases were successfully resolved. The induction of Cyber Commandos has further strengthened the response to cyber threats.
“Currently, 183 CISOs and ISOs are overseeing cyber protection across departments, supported by a Cyber Multi-Agency Centre for real-time intelligence sharing. A Security Operations Centre (SOC) is operational, and a Mini SOC at NIC NOC is under process in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Minister maintained. A committee has also been formed for the transition from IPv4 to IPv6, ensuring network readiness for future technologies, the Minister informed.
Satish Sharma said that the government has issued strict directions mandating the use of official email Ids for all communications and prohibiting non-government email use for official work. Steps have also been taken to disable unauthorized USB devices, promote Government Drive (GOV Drive) for secure storage, and implement web security protocols for virtual meetings.
Minister said that connectivity and Cyber Security together define the future of Jammu & Kashmir. “Government of Jammu and Kashmir under leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is determined to make every connection meaningful, every transaction trustworthy, and every citizen empowered. Jammu & Kashmir is not just going digital, it is becoming digitally secure and globally competitive,” he said.
Satish Sharma also extended gratitude to MeitY, MHA, BSNL, JAKEGA, and NIC for their continued partnership in realizing the dream of a digitally empowered Jammu & Kashmir.
