Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Feb 11: Cutting across party lines, legislators today flagged shortcomings in the education, health and social welfare sectors during the discussion on demands for grants in the Legislative Assembly, pressing the Government to address staff shortages, infrastructure gaps and rising costs.
BJP MLA from Doda West, Shakti Raj Parihar, said Jammu and Kashmir’s literacy rate has risen from 67.16 percent to 82 percent in 2025 and credited the Narendra Modi Government for the improvement. He, however, stressed the need to raise the standard of education in rural areas.
Alleging political bias in the opening and upgradation of schools, he claimed that around 800 schools were upgraded in 2014 ahead of elections without proper Cabinet approval by the Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress dispensation, causing inconvenience to students. He said similar yardsticks are being applied yet again in the upgradation of the schools.
He demanded that the dropout rate and shortage of teachers in rural areas be addressed, DPCs for teaching staff in Jammu province be conducted, and a degree college be sanctioned for Marmat-Dessa where land has already been identified.
NC MLA from Hazratbal, Salman Sagar, sought renovation of the main gate at SKIMS Soura and improvement in the condition of orphanages so that children feel secure and supported. He also called for identification of additional burial spaces across the UT.
PDP MLA from Tral, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, demanded better facilities in hospitals and schools in his constituency and sought additional anganwadi centres.
Congress MLA from Rajouri, Iftkar Ahmed, called for recruitment of MBBS, BDS and Ayush doctors, upgradation and creation of new PHCs and establishment of a Medical University in the region.
He also raised concern over high fees charged by private schools and sought strict implementation of the Fee Fixation Committee’s directions.
Among his other demands were de-freezing of teachers’ appointments, exemption of teachers from BLO duties, setting up of a Government Women Degree College in Rajouri and appointment of a permanent Registrar for Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University.
Independent MLA from Langate, Khursheed Ahmad Shiekh, demanded enhancement of wages for cook-cum-helpers and speedy completion of work on GMC Handwara and SDH Langate.
NC MLA from Gulmarg, Pirzada Farooq Ahmed Shah, sought restoration of statehood with constitutional guarantees.
He appreciated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for regularising Contingent Paid employees and expressed hope that daily wagers would also be regularised.
He further demanded constitution of an Education Advisory Board and Government support for EWS students’ fees.
NC MLA from Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali, demanded a degree college for Gund, inauguration of a completed hospital building, filling of the vacant CDPO post in Kangan and provision of anganwadi centres and night staff for trauma hospitals.
NC MLA from Anantnag West, Abdul Majeed Bhat (Larmi), called for ensuring at least one senior doctor in each department of Government Medical Colleges and urged the Government to address shortage of staff, especially paramedical personnel, on priority.
MLA Bishnah, Dr Rajiv Bhagat (BJP) demanded up-gradation of PHC Arnia near the International border, proper Ultrasound facility at Bishnah hospital with availability of doctor, a trauma hospital in border area, new Degree College building, setting up of drug de-addiction centre in Bishnah and regularization of the services of NHM employees.
MLA Sajjad Gani Lone from Peoples Conference demanded PET Scan machine for Handwara hospital, remove shortage of dental doctors in hospitals across J&K, encourage skills related education in schools/ colleges, bring reforms in education sector, make colleges industry friendly and improve healthcare facilities in the rural areas by appointed sufficient staff. Lone also pleaded for removing imbalance in the issuance of category certificates and said while 86 % were issued in Jammu, in Kashmir region hardly 14 % have been issued. He also quoted some figures.
Dr Shafi Ahmed and Husnain Masoodi from NC raised the demands with respect to bringing further improvement in the Health sector and strengthening the institutions with adequate trained staff. They regretted that less percentage of the total GDP has been kept for the Health sector by the Central Government but the J&K Govt has improved it. They stressed to work more to provide relief to the patients struggling with cancer, diabetes, renal failure and heart ailments. Husnain demanded upgradation of Pampore and Kakpora hospitals besides 3 other PHCs in his constituency.
Waheed Parra referred to slow pace of work on AIIMS Kashmir and demanded to expedite work on it. He further demanded MRI Machine for Pulwama hospital, allow registration of 3000 private clinical labs. Parra also demanded that SROs pertaining to reservation should be kept in abeyance till the outcome of new committee framed by this Govt.
Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri from NC demanded rationalization of teachers in the Govt schools and said in urban areas number of teachers in schools is much higher as compared to rural schools. The proper ratio should be maintained. Shortage of teachers in rural schools be removed. He also demanded that shortage of doctors and para medical staff be removed in the rural and far flung areas. A University’s south campus be established in Anantnag.
Surjit Singh Slathia from Samba demanded Degree College at Sumb, upgradation of several govt schools in his area, take effective measures to increase roll of the students in Govt primary and Middle schools, provide ICU and dialysis facilities in Samba and Ghagwal hospitals and remove shortage of specialist doctors in Samba and Ghagwal.
Dr Rameshwar Singh from Bani demanded that shortage of doctors and other medical staff be removed in the Bani and Machhedi hospitals. Many posts of doctors are lying vacant in the area. Eight posts of Ayush doctors are there in Bani but noboy attends duty. He also demanded regularization of NHM employees, upgradation of Govt schools, send doctors to three NTPHCs in Bani area and provide dialysis facility in Bani hospital.
MLA Banihal, Sajjad Shaheen protested for not providing him time to speak and had a tiff with the chief whip of his party. However, he was calm down by the Health and Education Minister.
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