57 health institutes functional in Sheeri, Kreeri blocks in Baramulla
Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
JAMMU, MARCH 18: "Around 550 posts of Medical Officers (MOs) are vacant in Jammu and Kashmir with selection of 181 MOs in process", stated Minister for Agriculture Production Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, while replying on behalf of Minister for Health and Medical Education to a clubbed question raised by Dr. Sajad Shafi and Javed Hassan Beig in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that 57 health institutes are functional in Sheeri and Kreeri blocks of Baramulla district. The sanctioned staff including Medical Officers and paramedics in block Kreeri is 157, 121 are in place while 36 are vacant. Similarly, the sanctioned staff in block Sheeri is 330, 223 are in position and 107 are vacant. These posts included regular category and NHM, he added
The Minister said that the land acquisition in respect of CHC Chandoosa is under process and the matter has been taken up with the concerned revenue authorities for identification of state land. He added that an amount of Rs. 8 lakh has been released for land compensation of NTPHC Laridora during the year 2021-2022 which has been kept at the disposal of District Development Commissioner, Baramulla. The said amount could not be paid to the landowner due to closure of the financial year and the funds were lapsed. However, construction of NTPHC on aforementioned land has been completed and presently NTPHC Laridora has been functioning from this newly constructed building since September 2024.
The Minister informed the House that the department is making sustained efforts to address the ongoing issue of vacancies of Medical Officers, which presently stands at approximately around 550 posts. He added that the selection process for 181 Medical Officer posts is still underway with JKPSC and once the selection is completed, they will be posted to health institutions experiencing severe staff shortages.
The Minister further informed the House that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist for 91 selected Medical Officers, who will be deployed to under-served areas across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the healthcare delivery.
Regarding vacancies of MOs in Baramulla district, the Minister informed the House that, out of a sanctioned strength of 275 MOs, 219 are in position and 56 are vacant across different Medical Blocks of the district. He also stated that, out of 365 recently appointed Medical Officers, 39 have been posted to district Baramulla to address the staff shortages and enhance healthcare services.
The Minister further informed that additional 11 staff members from NHM and 71 from Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), including doctors and paramedics, have been deployed in Baramulla which significantly improved the healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas of the district.
Legislators; Mubarak Gul and Mir Saifullah raised the supplementaries to the question.
Surankote Stadium completed at cost of Rs 243.41 lakh: Satish Sharma
Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, today informed the House that the Stadium at Surankote has been completed with a cost of Rs 243.41 lakh.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Choudhary Mohammad Akram in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed the House that the Surankote Stadium comprises facilities like pavilion, change room, gender based toilets for boys and girls, synthetic volleyball, basketball and badminton courts, concrete practice pitch and bore well for drinking water facilities for the sports lovers.
He said that besides the Stadium the department has also constructed one playfield at Charallan Fazalabad in Suronkote Constituency with facilities including modern pavilion with inbuilt sound system worth Rs 31.22 lakh, filling of RBM/construction of gate at Rs 13.75 lakh, Chainlink fencing and leveling of playfield costing Rs 20.47 lakh.
The Minister further said that the volleyball court in Sports stadium Surankote has been completed during the current financial year 2024-25 and the coaching facility will be provided to the players by the department besides establishment of Kabaddi Centre subject to availability of resources.
The Minister informed that no project has been sanctioned under Khelo India scheme at Draba/Mastandara near BDO Office, Bufliaz. The department has no intimation from the Revenue authorities regarding acquisition of land for construction of a stadium or playfield, he added.
He said that Rehbar-e-Khel policy envisages regularization of Rehbar-e-Khel in a staggered manner on completion of seven years of satisfactory and continuous service against the available/created posts of Physical Education Teachers.
The Minister further said that 40 players are getting free training under the qualified mentor/coach, regularly, with free access to infrastructure, coaching and equipment by Khelo India centre under Khelo India Scheme at Charallan Fazlabad in the discipline of football.
He said that the facilities in the form of sports infrastructure encouraged the youth participants and participation of the students which was 2,46,890 in Poonch district during various departmental sports activities and other activities conducted in the year 2024-25, so far.
He said that the Policy for engagement of Rehbar-e-khel was adopted in the Youth Services and Sports Department and 3000 positions of Rehbar-e-Khel were created, with the primary objective to promote Sports, Games and Physical Education and at present 2417 REKs are working in the department.
The Minister added that the vacancies of Physical Education Teachers, as shall accrue to the department, shall not be filled up but kept reserved for regularization of the Rehbars. At present, 923 vacancies of Physical Education Teachers are lying vacant for regularization of Rehbar-e-Khels. The monthly honorarium for the first two years shall be Rs. 3000 which shall be enhanced to Rs. 4000 for third to seventh year.
WSSs worth Rs 391.57 cr undertaken under JJM in Samba: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti Department, Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed the House that the government has undertaken 130 Water Supply Schemes (WSSs), worth Rs 391.57 crore in Samba district under the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Surjeet Singh Salathia in the Legislative Assembly.
He informed the House that against Rs. 391.57 crore an expenditure of Rs. 179.10 crore has been incurred, till date. He said that 83 schemes have been completed till date and the remaining are at different stages of progress which shall also be completed within mission timelines subject to release of required funds under CSS by the Government of India and the corresponding UT component.
Regarding execution of WSS works in Samba constituency, the Minister said that, presently, there are 76 schemes under execution, of which, 54 are under Jal Jeevan Mission worth Rs. 160.92 crore, against which an expenditure of Rs. 80.69 crore has been incurred till date with completion of 36 schemes and the remaining 18 schemes are at different stages of completion.
He said that, similarly, there are 22 schemes taken up under CAPEX/NABARD at an estimated cost of Rs. 21.82 crore, against which Rs. 11.57 crore have been spent with completion of 17 works and the remaining are at different stages of completion.
Legislator, Chander Prakash Ganga raised the supplementary to the question.
17 WSSs worth Rs 72.27 cr under execution in Wagoora-Kreeri constituency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today informed the House that 17 Water Supply Schemes (WSSs) worth Rs. 72.27 crore have been taken up for execution under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide potable water in Wagoora-Kreeri constituency of Baramulla.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Irfan Hafiz Lone in the Legislative Assembly.
He informed the House that against an estimated cost of Rs. 72.27 crore, an amount of Rs. 32.10 crore expenditure has been made, so far. These schemes, on completion, will cover 8483 households supplying them with a portable water supply, he added.
He stated that most of the villages had piped water supply through Public Stand Posts (PSPs), which were installed under the erstwhile programs. The Jal Jeevan Mission targets providing Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household, except single houses far away from villages/habitations, he added. He said that adequate drinking water supply is being provided in areas where the JJM schemes have been completed, however, there are some areas where JJM schemes have not been completed yet and as such may have low service levels which shall get improved with completion of these schemes.
The Minister said that with the recent snowfall and rainfall, all the affected sources have been recharged and all the water supply schemes are running smoothly. However, in case of temporary depletions, whenever occurring due to long dry spells, regulation of supplies is being restored in addition to deployment of tanker services.
The Minister said that most of the habitations in Wagoora, Takiya, Muqam, Putuka, Choora, Wagub, Krankshiavn, Panzipora, Bangdara, Chandkoot, Bulgam, Rengi, Trumgund, Hamray, Wanigam Bala, Payeen, Malikpora and Dargam, Malikbagh areas are being supplied adequate water supply under different schemes.
The Minister maintained that, at present, there is no proposal for pipeline extension from Kalatara to Shrunz and construction of a new WSS for Wagoora and Takiya Wagoora.
The Minister informed that the issue of left out areas including uncovered tribal habitations shall be taken up with the Central Government to ensure their coverage under JJM schemes.
1496 CRCs hired during academic session 2024-25: Javed Dar
1427 schools functional in Udhampur district
The honorarium of Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) has been proposed at Rs. 30000 per month with the Union Ministry for School Education and Literacy.
Minister for Agriculture Production department, Javed Ahmad Dar, informed this while replying on behalf of Minister for Education to a clubbed question raised by Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Balwant Singh Mankotia in the Legislative Assembly.
During the reply, the Minister stated that the School Education department had been engaging Contractual Lecturers on academic arrangement basis for the academic sessions, but since 2019 the department has engaged no contractual lecturers. He added that to cope up the staff shortage in High and Higher Secondary Schools, 1496 Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRCs) have been hired on temporary basis during the academic session 2024-25 to teach specific subjects in these schools on a monthly honorarium of Rs. 25000 up to 31.03.2025 only.
The Minister further informed that Vocational/Skill education has been introduced in schools of J&K under centrally sponsored scheme Samagra Shiksha. He added that Vocational Education has successfully been implemented in 1350 High and Higher Secondary Schools of J&K under Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI Scheme.
The Minister further said that 2187 Vocational Trainers and 48 Vocational Coordinators have been engaged through the Vocational Training Partners. He added that Vocational Trainers are being paid a monthly honorarium of Rs. 20,000, but their monthly honorarium has been proposed at Rs. 30,000 for approval for the year 2025-2026, under PAB 2025-26 from the Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy.
Regarding filling up of vacancies in Chenani constituency, the Minister informed the house that the department is making all efforts to overcome the deficiency of teaching and non-teaching staff in schools by way of proper rationalization, deployment of Cluster Resource Coordinators and affecting promotions to streamline and maintain the pupil-teacher ratio in schools including those of Chenani Constituency.
He also informed that the selections are being made against 594 posts of Lecturers, recently referred to JKPSC, which will ease out the deficiency of Lecturers at the 10+2 level. He also informed that 1427 schools from Primary to Higher Secondary level are functional in Udhampur district, of which, 399 schools are existing in Chenani constituency.
Regarding Cooks-cum-Helpers working under PM POSHAN (Mid Day Meals Scheme), the Minister stated that they are being paid monthly honorarium of Rs.1000 as per the guidelines and norms of Union Ministry for Education, with the sharing pattern of 90:10 for preparation of meals and not for the whole day. He added that the demand for enhancement of the honorarium of Cooks-Cum-Helpers has been taken up with the Ministry of School Education and Literacy, GoI.
The Minister also informed the house that several Centrally Sponsored Schemes are being implemented by the School Education department in J&K like SAMAGRA SHIKSHA, PM SHRI, NILP (UJLAAS) and PM POSHAN.
Contractors served notices for repairing of roads in Udhampur West: Javed Dar
Minister for Rural Development Department, Javed Ahmad Dar, today informed the House that the roads being constructed by PMGSY in Udhampur West constituency are under Defect Liability Period (DLP) for a period of 5 years. If any damage is found after construction or during the maintenance period then it is being rectified by the Contractor, he added.
The Minister was replying on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister to a question raised by Pawan Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that the roads being executed in Udhampur West Assembly Constituency under NABARD are in good condition and no substandard material has been used in PMGSY/NABARD roads.
However, the Minister informed that the blacktopping done on 7 km road from Kainthgali Block Boundary Udhampur to Bariote Upto Moungri, currently under construction, was removed and Wet Mix Macadam was re-laid when the authorities noticed defect in this entire 7 km road. He said that, as the weather improves, 50 mm thick Bituminous Macadam and 20 mm OGPC will be re-laid and whole rectification would be done by the concerned contractor.
The Minister informed the House that various contractors have been served notices for repairing defects and damages of roads during DLP. He said that the roads to be repaired under the Defect Liability Period (DLP) included road projects from Garhi to Gathiyal Morh, LO23- NH1A Km 63rd to Gandala, Gandala to Narore, Kainthgali Bariote Km 20th to Jesserkote, Moungri to Ladda, Kainthgali Bariote km 44 to Lali and Mir to Saroffti. The notices have been issued to the Contractor for restoration of the damages and defects in these roads to facilitate seamless connectivity to the people.
The Minister said that the NRIDA arranges third party technical assessment and external Quality Assurance by deploying National Quality Monitors, whose responsibility is to verify that the UT's Quality Management is adequate in implementing the road infrastructure works.
Keeping the road safety measures in view, crash barriers have been installed at various vulnerable spots on a number of roads, added the Minister.