SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the Legislative Assembly that Government Nursing College has already been approved at Budgam and the proposal for creation of manpower for the College is under consideration for making the college operational.
The Minister said this in reply to a question raised by Legislator Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani in House today.
The Minister informed the House that the Department is presently focussing on consolidation of existing healthcare delivery system. She added that critical gaps, if any, are being evaluated through necessary feasibility assessment and introduction of digital interventions like tele-consultation, e-Sanjeevni etc; to extend the outreach of healthcare delivery system.
The Minister further informed that as of now, there is no proposal for establishing Nursing College at Beerwah or Trauma Hospital at Magam. “As per the prescribed guidelines, a minimum of 73 staff members are required for making a basic Level-III Trauma Centre fully functional, including specialized manpower such as General Surgeon, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Anaesthetist and Radiographer”, she said.
The Minister added that the operationalization of such a Trauma Centre entails an annual financial implication estimated at ₹5 crore towards manpower and related requirements.
She further added that the cases related to trauma care are being taken care through existing health facilities like DH Budgam, SDH Beerwah, SDH Magam and tertiary-level hospitals like JVC Bemina, SMHS Hospital, etc.
She also said that need assessment will be evaluated at an appropriate stage to ascertain the feasibility for both demands and necessary action taken in accordance with the rules/ norms.
Regarding upgradation of existing Sub-Centres at Charangam, Iskanderpora and SK-Pora to NTPHCs, the Minister informed that as per the population norm under the IPHS Guidelines (20,000 for hilly /difficult areas & 30,000 for plain areas), the Sub Centres at Charangam, Iskanderpora and SK-Pora does not qualify for next level of upgradation.
She also added that there is no proposal to establish new Health Sub-Centres at Lassipora, Nusso and Bandgam as the department is presently focusing on consolidation of existing healthcare delivery system.
Jal Shakti Department Accelerates Restoration of Water Supply, Irrigation Infrastructure in Surankote: Javed Rana
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today informed the Legislative Assembly that comprehensive measures have been initiated for restoration of water supply and irrigation infrastructure in Surankote constituency, which suffered extensive damage due to recent heavy rainfall, cloudbursts and subsequent flash floods.
Responding to a question raised by MLA Choudhary Mohammad Akram, the Minister informed that most of the water supply schemes in Surankote constituency were affected by the recent natural calamity.
He stated that 43 water supply schemes, comprising 19 JJM, 14 NRDWP, 2 NABARD and 8 existing schemes, suffered severe damage to their infrastructure, resulting in major disruption of water supply services.
The Minister informed that temporary restoration has been completed at most locations, enabling restoration of water supply to the affected population. However, schemes where major damage has occurred to rising mains, electro-mechanical components and certain major gravity mains require permanent restoration.
He said that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for permanent restoration of the affected water supply schemes are presently under preparation. The permanent restoration works will be taken up thereafter, subject to approval of the DPRs and availability of funds.
Clarifying the issue of material availability, the Minister stated that shortage of pipes is not hampering the restoration work. “Temporary restoration measures have already been undertaken to facilitate early restoration of water supply to the affected population”, he added.
On the irrigation infrastructure, the Minister informed that the Surankote constituency also sustained significant damage to its network of irrigation channels, with 24 Khuls impacted by the natural calamity.
Out of these, the Minister said that seven Khuls have been temporarily restored under SDRF to facilitate agricultural activities and ensure availability of irrigation water to the affected areas.
For permanent restoration and protection of the irrigation network, he said the Department has prepared and submitted a damage assessment report amounting to ₹8.22 crore to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR).
In addition, a DPR amounting to ₹5 crore has been prepared and submitted under the R&R Plan for restoration and improvement of various Khuls in Mendhar, Surankote and Poonch constituencies.
The Minister stated that permanent restoration works would be taken up on priority, subject to the availability of funds.
The Minister further informed that, in the PHE sector, block-wise DPRs covering the affected water supply schemes of Surankote constituency are presently under preparation for permanent restoration of damages caused by the recent cloudbursts and flash floods.
He said the restoration works would be taken up thereafter as per the approved DPRs and subject to availability of funds.
In the I&FC sector, the Minister informed that 24 works amounting to ₹47.01 lakh have been submitted to the District Development Commissioner, Poonch, for temporary restoration of various Khuls in Surankote constituency.
He added that DPRs for these works have already been prepared, while the tendering process would be initiated upon release and availability of funds.
The Minister reiterated that the Jal Shakti Departments priority is to restoration of essential water supply and irrigation infrastructure damaged during the recent natural calamity, with a focus on restoring services at the earliest and undertaking permanent works in a planned and sustainable manner.
Legislator Chander Parkash Ganaga also raised the supplementary.
Adequate provisions for media platforms in proposed New Media Policy: Govt.
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: The Government today informed the House that under proposed New Media Policy, 2026, adequate provisions for registration and regulation of the Online News Media Platforms have been incorporated to ensure their accountability.
This was stated by Minister for Education Sakeena Itoo on behalf of Minister Incharge Information Department in Legislative Assembly today, in response to a question raised by Legislator Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri.
The Minister informed the House that the issue was discussed in detail during the previous Budget Session 2026 and MLAs across all political parties, highlighted the issue of dissemination of misleading and false information by unregistered and unregulated Digital/Social Media News Channels and the need to fix their accountability.
She added that as per the Government’s commitment to effectively address the issue, the Information Department is soon going to issue New Media Policy, 2026, wherein, besides Print Media, adequate provisions for registration and regulation of the Online News Media Platforms have been incorporated to ensure their accountability.
The Minister also said that as per the instructions given in House Committee on Govt. Assurances meeting recently, headed by Legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar, the Information Department has been asked to come up with a comprehensive guideline/SOP, mandating maintaining of the detailed lists of all unregistered social media news handles in the districts by the respective District Administration and to file cases under the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (earlier IPC)
She added that these new Laws contain explicit provisions to penalize and manage the spread of misinformation, fake news, and provocative content on social media platforms.
The Minister also informed that the J&K Home Department has also established the J&K Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (JK4C) as an independent organization under the overall superintendence and control of the Director General of Police, J&K, for coordinating, preventing, detecting and investigating cybercrimes in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
She also informed the House that to keep a check on fake/ misleading News Items appearing in the Print/Electronic/Social Media, the Social Media Cell of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), J&K regularly tracks and examines such news through its dedicated Cell for monitoring of Fake/ Misleading News.
“As soon as any news item which is found fake or misleading, the Rebuttal of the same is issued through the Social Media handles of the Department on real time basis. It is also ensured that the Rebuttal of the Fake/ Misleading News items is issued for publication in the immediate next edition of the Newspapers, besides uploading of the same on the official website of the DIPR to keep the public informed”, she said.
The Minister also informed that the proposed J&K Media Policy, 2026, authorizes the DIPR to monitor content for fake news, plagiarism, and unethical/anti-national activities and to de-empanel the media house or withhold release of any government advertisement to such media entities. Besides, if such entities are registered by the Press Registrar General of India under the Press & Registration of Periodicals Act of 2023, their de-registration is recommended under the said Act, she added.
Legislators Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kuloo), Tanvir Sadiq, Saifuddin Bhat, Nazir Ahamd Khan (Gurezi), Waheed ur Rehman Parra, R.S Pathania, Nizamuddin Bhat, Pawan Gupta and Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi raised supplementaries.
Upgradation of irrigation infrastructure underway in Anantnag district: Javed Rana
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Department has undertaken a series of measures to address drought-related concerns, improve irrigation infrastructure and strengthen flood protection measures in vulnerable areas of Anantnag district.
Responding to a question raised by MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan, the Minister stated that the Department has taken concrete measures to address the issue of drought and improve the efficiency of existing irrigation infrastructure.
He informed that the work viz “Checking of leakages by way of jacketing and bed treatment of Canal Branch of Martand Canal from RD 0–1100 m” has been executed under UT Capex at an estimated cost of ₹0.70 crore.
The Minister said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for “Improvements and Repair of various Irrigation Canals, Khuls, Distribution Channels of Irrigation Sub-Division Bawan and Bijbehara of Irrigation Division Anantnag” has been prepared under the Pool of Projects and SASCI at an estimated cost of ₹3.19 crore. The DPR has been submitted to the Finance Department for necessary consideration.
On flood protection, the Minister said that vulnerable locations along the embankments of rivers, nallahs, streams and drainage channels have been identified through field inspections, surveys, assessment of past flood events and site-specific evaluations.
Based on these assessments, the Department has initiated action for execution of three flood protection works along the Lidder and Aripath Nallahs under UT Capex at an estimated cost of ₹1.65 crore. The work-wise physical and financial status of these works has been provided in the Supplementary Information.
He further informed that two Detailed Project Reports involving ₹15.50 crore have also been framed under the Pool of Projects and submitted to the Finance Department for necessary consideration.
Addressing concerns regarding long-pending water supply schemes, the Minister informed the House that the Department has initiated necessary action to identify and remove the bottlenecks affecting their completion. He stated that fresh DPRs are being prepared wherever required to facilitate completion of the pending water supply schemes.
The Minister reiterated that the Jal Shakti Department is undertaking focused interventions to strengthen irrigation infrastructure, improve water management, address drought-related challenges and enhance flood protection mechanisms, with the objective of ensuring more resilient and reliable water infrastructure for the people.
Rajiv Gandhi Hospital Gangyal functioning as a 50-bedded health facility: Sakeena Itoo
Says 592 paramedical/non-gazetted posts referred to JKSSB for recruitment
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 30: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the Legislative Assembly that Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Gangyal, previously functioning as Leprosy Hospital, has a 50-bedded health infrastructure and the options to optimally utilize the health infrastructure of the said hospital are being explored.
The Minister said this in response to a question raised by Legislator Devinder Kumar Manyal on behalf of MLA Dr. Narinder Singh Raina.
Regarding upgradation of the hospital to a 50-bedded Sub-District Hospital, the Minister informed that the bed capacity of the hospital has already been upgraded to 50-beds. She added that the population of catchment areas of the hospital is approximately 45,000-50,000, which does not qualify it for up-gradation to the CHC/SDH level as per IPHS Guidelines. She added that scores of hospitals of the level of tertiary and secondary care are available within the vicinity including other PMJAY-SEHAT empanelled hospitals.
The Minister added that to optimally utilize the health infrastructure in the best interests of patient care, options to further strengthen the health facilities is being explored.
Regarding dearth of doctors at SDH R.S. Pura, the Minister informed that against 14 sanctioned posts of doctors under regular establishment, 12 doctors are presently in position, comprising the BMO, Consultant Surgeon, Consultant Physician, Consultant Gynaecologist, Consultant Anaesthetist, Consultant Paediatrician, Medical Officers and Dental Surgeon. In addition, six doctors are in position against seven permissible NHM positions, including four RBSK Doctors, she said.
She highlighted that 18 doctors are presently available at SDH R.S. Pura against 21 sanctioned/permissible posts, with only 3 posts are vacant.
Regarding paramedical/non-gazetted staff, the Minister informed that 292 vacant posts pertaining to Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization and 290 non-gazetted/paramedical posts under the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu have already been referred to JKSSB for recruitment. She added that the selected candidates shall be posted against identified vacancies as per the assessed manpower requirements, which will further strengthen healthcare services in staff-deficient areas, including the aforesaid constituency.
The Minister also said that 839 Non-Gazetted vacancies and 261 MTS (Class-IV) posts in Jammu Division are under examination and shall be referred to JKSSB for recruitment after completion of the requisite process and obtaining the concurrence of the Finance Department.
