JAMMU, MARCH 18 (KNS): "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.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel41 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.(KNS)