Bilal Bhat
Srinagar 31 January 2026: JKAS officer and Under Secretary in the Lieutenant Governor’s Grievance Cell, Azeeta Qureshi, was accorded a warm public felicitation in Srinagar during an awareness-cum-interaction programme organised to mark National Road Safety Month, bringing together civil society members, media professionals and representatives of the All Kashmir E-Rickshaw Union.
The event, which focused on road safety, public accountability and grassroots governance, saw Azeeta Qureshi attend as a Chief Guest , where she interacted with transport stakeholders and emphasised the importance of human-centric administration, safe mobility and responsive grievance redressal mechanisms.
Addressing the gathering, Qureshi underlined that road safety is not merely a matter of enforcement but of collective responsibility. She stressed the need for dialogue between administration and stakeholders working at the grassroots, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on public roads.
The programme was organised by the All Kashmir E-Rickshaw Union, whose leadership lauded the JKAS officer for her accessibility, empathy and consistent engagement with public issues.
Arshid Ahmad Bhat, President of the All Kashmir E-Rickshaw Union, said the presence of Azeeta Qureshi at the event sent a strong message of trust and inclusion.
“It is rare to see officers who listen patiently and respond with sensitivity. Ms Azeeta Qureshi represents an administration that understands the problems of people working on the ground, especially small transport workers who are often unheard,” he said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Omer Dar, Vice President of the Union, said the interaction was encouraging for e-rickshaw drivers across Kashmir.
“Her words reflected accountability and concern. We felt that our issues related to safety, regulation and dignity of labour were acknowledged. Such interactions build confidence among workers,” Dar remarked.
Firdous Ahmad Sofi, General Secretary of the Union, described the event as meaningful and timely.
“National Road Safety Month should not be symbolic. Today’s programme showed that awareness, dialogue and administrative cooperation can go hand in hand. We appreciate Ms Qureshi for engaging with us and recognising the role of e-rickshaw operators in sustainable urban mobility,” he said.
The event also saw participation from media persons and civil society members, who welcomed the initiative as a step towards bridging the gap between governance and grassroots stakeholders.
Participants noted that the felicitation was not merely ceremonial but reflective of growing expectations from public institutions to remain accessible, transparent and humane.
As National Road Safety Month continues across the country, speakers at the event stressed that sustainable transport, safety awareness and responsive governance must remain central to policymaking, especially in urban centres like Srinagar.
The programme concluded with a collective call for safer roads, respectful enforcement and continued dialogue between authorities and transport workers, with organisers expressing hope that such engagements would translate into tangible policy support on the ground.
