Assembly passes grants of SW, Edu, Health Deptts
*Govt to roll out comprehensive Cancer Control Strategy
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today said that it has referred 594 posts of lecturers in Education department and 480 posts of doctors (Medical Officers ) to the J&K Public Service Commission, increased 340 MBBS and 128 Post Graduate (PG) seats in various Medical Colleges of the JKUT and is shortly coming out with a comprehensive cancer control strategy, besides ensuring better infrastructure development and capacity building in the UT.
While replying to the discussion on grants of Education (School/ Higher), Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Departments in the J&K Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister concerned, Sakina Itoo said the administration is significantly expanding medical infrastructure, diagnostic services and emergency healthcare facilities across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The cancer control strategy will be rolled out in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Indian Council of Medical Research,” she said.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The minister said the focus will be managing the disease through strategic interventions and planning with reputed with reputed organisations such as the Tata Memorial Centre. She also noted that a Cervical Cancer Vaccination drive has been launched for girls aged 9 to 15 years as a preventive healthcare measure.
While emphasising that Health, Education and Social Welfare form the backbone of a strong society, Itoo said the Government is committed to ensuring that development and welfare schemes reach every household.
She said these sectors are interconnected and directly impact the quality of life of citizens, noting that the budget provisions made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reflect a commitment to strengthening these services despite financial constraints. “When health is weak, education suffers. When education fails, poverty grows. When social welfare collapses, dignity is lost,” she remarked.
The minister informed the House that the Government aims to improve healthcare at the grassroot level by upgrading clinics, increasing workforce and focusing on preventive care, maternal health and mental healthcare. On education, she said the investments are being made in teacher training and school infrastructure to ensure students from village gets equal opportunity.
Referring to reforms in the Education sector, Itoo said the restoration of the academic session from March to November following demands from parents and students. The change, she said, contributed to improved results in winter zone examinations, with Government schools recording pass percentage of 80 per cent in Class 10, 84 per cent in Class 12 and 83 per cent in Class 11.
Sakina disclosed 594 posts of Lecturers have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission, with the selection process is in its final stage. Besides, 727 non-teaching posts and 43 multi-tasking staff posts are slated for recruitment.
She added that 58 Principals were promoted as in-charge Chief Education Officers and DIET Principals during the last year and 258 senior lecturers were placed as in-charge principals between January 2025 and 2026.
The Minister referred to the ongoing hospital projects, including 300-beded facilities at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, 250-beded facilities at Government Medical College Bemina, Srinagar, a 110-bed additional block at LD Hospital Srinagar, a 100-bed theatre block at SMHS Hospital Srinagar and a 30-bed Emergency Medical and Trauma block at GMC Srinagar.
For further strengthening emergency response services, Sakina said, 44 Advanced Life Support ambulances have been added, taking the total fleet under 102 and 108 services to 533. Specialised ambulances will also be deployed in border areas, she added.
Highlighting achievements under the National TB Elimination Programme, the minister said 2,006 Panchayats in the Union Territory have been declared TB free.
Minister further revealed that 480 posts of Medical Officers have been referred to JKPSC, 582 posts of Para Medical staff have been referred to JKSSB, besides 468 appointments as Medical Officers have been made through JKPSC during last 1.5 years.
She further added that 268 Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and others have been engaged on Academic arrangement basis in all GMCs of J&K.
Sakina said 340 MBBS seats have been added in all GMCs, including ASCOMS Jammu, 128 PG seats have also been added in all GMC’s including SKIMS and 34 PG Ayurveda seats have also been sanctioned.
Regarding drug de-addiction, the Health Minister said, “J&K has highest number of functional Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in country in public health sector (21) and every district is covered”. She added that these ATFs across J&K have provided around 1.5 lakh patient consultations.
She added that a survey in 10 districts of J&K will be launched to look in-depth of problem and this survey will be part of national survey in substance use disorders.
While speaking about Social Welfare sector, the Minister said that 28186 Anganwadi Centres are functional in J&K and 8.41 Lakh beneficiaries are covered under Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
She added that 99% Anganwadi Centres are housed in functional buildings and 338 Anganwadi Centres housed in Government buildings have been upgraded as Saksham Anganwadi Centres in 2025-26 with facilities like LED screens, water purifiers, learning walls, CCTVs, bio-metric attendance system, POSHAN Vatikas and Rain water harvesting.
Sakina said capital allocation is proposed to be increased from Rs 67 Cr. to Rs.170 cr and 127 new AWCs will be constructed, one in each CDPO block.
The Minister said that for Scheduled Caste students, Government has established 13 Hostels and construction of SC/ST building at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.07 cr will be completed during the current year.
While speaking on Higher Education sector, the Minister said that out of 50 new Degree Colleges sanctioned in 2019, buildings for eight colleges have been completed and construction work of 24 Degree Colleges is in process, out of which eight are at its finishing stage.
She also highlighted that 18 new projects under PM-USHA have been approved with an approved cost of Rs 155 cr to strengthen infrastructure in Universities and Degree Colleges, which include two Universities-SMVDU and BGSBU, nine Degree colleges and construction of 7 Girls Hostels in various colleges of J&K.
Referring to the demand of PDP Member Waheed Parara on reservation, Minister said the report prepared by a sub-committee on reservation has been approved by the Cabinet and forwarded to the Centre, and it will be made public once a final decision is received.
On December 10, 2024, the Government had constituted the cabinet sub-committee to look into grievances raised by various sections of aspirants against the existing reservation policy in the Union Territory and submitted the LG in October last year.
She said the Government has taken a serious and consultative approach on the reservation issue and assured that the interests of youth were kept at the centre of deliberations.
“After cabinet discussion and approval, the report was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor. The day before yesterday, the Chief Minister said in his speech here that the Lieutenant Governor has forwarded it to the Home Minister,” Itoo said.
Now, whatever decision is taken there, when the file comes back to us, it will be placed before the public, she said.
The minister said several representations were received by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah after formation of the Government, following which a sub-committee comprising three ministers was constituted to examine the issue.
“The committee held consultations with delegations from different regions, including Rajouri, Srinagar, Baramulla, Jammu and Kathua,” Itoo said.
“We met delegations across political lines and prepared a detailed report after consultations. The report was submitted to the Government, examined by departments and discussed again before final submission,” she said.
The minister said that the report was subsequently approved by the Cabinet and forwarded to the LG, who has further sent it to the Union Home Ministry for consideration.
She said that the matter is currently confidential and under examination, but assured that the Government will place the report in the public domain once it is returned after a final decision. “We have worked sincerely on merit and kept youth welfare in mind rather than indulging in vote politics,” she added.
Later, the Legislators Balwant Singh Mankotia, Sajad Gani Lone, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Devinder Kumar Manyal, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Shakti Raj Parihar, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Mohan Lal Bhagat, and Sheikh Khursheed withdrew their Cut Motions after assurances by the Minister. Waheed Parra’s Motion was, however, defeated by the voice vote.
The House then passed the grants amounting to Rs. 12,98,872.13 lakh for School Education Department, worth Rs 8,65,476.57 lakh for Health and Medical Education Department, Rs 4,45,671.59 lakh for Social Welfare Department and Rs 2,15,016.37 lakh for Higher Education Department through voice vote.
The post 340 MBBS, 128 PG seats increased; 594 posts of Lecturers, 480 of doctors referred to JKPSC: Sakina appeared first on Daily Excelsior.