Dynastic parties neglected J&K for 7 decades
Avtar Bhat
SAMBA, Feb 13: Making a scathing attack on Congress, National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for neglecting the erstwhile J&K State during their decades long rule, Union Minister of State in PMO with Independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that during last 67 years, dynastic parties Government, the J&K got only two Medical Colleges while in last five and half years of Narendra Modi rule, nine Medical Colleges and two AIIMS were sanctioned for the two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
The Union Minister was addressing a function at Vijaypur today while performing the ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ of Rs 1661 crore AIIMS. He urged the authorities of CPWD, the agency which has been entrusted the construction of AIIMS Jammu at Vijaypur, to speed up the work on the project and ensure its completion by year 2022 when the nation will be celebrating 75th anniversary of Independence of the country.
Earlier Chief Engineer CPWD, Pardeep Kumar Dixit in his address had said that the project construction target is September 2023 but the Agency will complete it in March 2023, six months ahead of target date. However, the Minister stressed that the first batch of MBBS students should start by year 2022 which is the 75th anniversary of Independence of India.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir is the only State or Union Territory in the country to have been allocated two AIIMS-one in Jammu & one in Kashmir and complimented the Prime Minister for his focus on development in the Union Territory in Jammu & Kashmir on the same lines as the development and success story of the North Eastern States.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while taking a dig at opposition parties for misleading the people with their baseless statements, said “when we could wait for 70 long years for revocation of controversial Article 370, can’t we wait for 70 weeks for Central acts which will also speed up development projects”?
He said among the new Medical Colleges sanctioned included Kathua, Doda , Rajouri, Udhampur, in Jammu region, Baramulla, Anantnag, Handwara in district Kupwara of Kashmir Valley and Leh in Ladakh. Besides one national Institute of High Altitude Medicines has also been sanctioned for Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu region which is equivalent to a Medical College, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that after independence the two hospitals were converted into two Medical Colleges in J&K which were earlier set up by the Maharaja. The SKIMS was established by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah after he came to power second time in 1975 with Central funding, he added while terming the establishing of nineMedical Colleges and two AIIMS in J&K a great achievement of Modi Government and its commitment for the development and progress of two UTs.
He said Kathua, Udhampur -Doda Lok Sabha constituency has the distinction of getting three Medical Colleges and one National Institute of High Altitude Medicines which is a great mile stone towards the its development.
Maintaining that Modi Government believes in justice to all and appeasement to none, he said this Government gave birth to such a political system in the country which is above vote bank politics. Same pattern was adopted in North East and it has now emerged as developmental model for entire nation, he added.
“There was dreaded terrorism in NE where the situation was much more aggravated than J&K,” he said, adding in five years the situation changed there and they have forgotten terror and a new era of development has begin.
Dr Jitendra Singh said India is a young nation whose 70 percent people are youth and they can’t be corrupted or misled by any one. He said “While announcing aspirational districts two such districts were selected in J&K which were not our vote bank but we selected them without consideration of party politics because we believe in mantra of justice to all and appeasement to none’’.
He said that this Government started work on projects which were shelved for last four decades and in this regard he referred to Shapur Kandi and Ujh Multipurpose Project. Not only this, Modi Government sanctioned Pakal Dul and Keri Power projects besides resuming the work on much talked about Rattle Power Project which was abandoned by NC-Congress Government earlier, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said he was perturbed after announcement of two AIIMS for J&K as there was apprehension of they, becoming sick institutes because faculty from other States was not ready to serve here due to restrictions of Article 370. “But my this worry has ended now after the revocation of Article 370 on August 5 by Modi Government and conversion of State into UT on October 31 last year’’, he added.
He said Jammu should be now known by AIIMS and IIT as Khadkpur is known by IIT. “It should be such an Institute which will train teachers and it needs hard work to come up to that level’’, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that Solar Plant should be established in the institute for power supply to it and also for outsourcing the same. This way clean energy can be provided to the Hospital. He also declared that funds for Arun Jaitley Sports Stadium at Hiranagar have been sanctioned and regretted that those politicians who were earlier making hue and cry that work has not been started on AIIMS did not attend the ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ today.
Dr Jitendra Singh also announced that notifications for all UT rules will be issued one by one soon and domicile jobs law will also come. He said “we should not lose time in small issues and become part of mainstream psychologically and not only physically instead of falling in such a trap which will ruin us.”
In his address, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to establish AIIMS for Jammu has been fulfilled by PM Narendra Modi. He said setting up two AIIMS is a great milestone in the development of J&K.
Advisor to Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar in his address said AIIMS is not recognised in India but also at international level. He said it is matter of great happiness that Bhoomi Poojan of such an prestigious institute was performed today. It will have green buildings and all modern facilities available. Besides, treating patients it will be a teaching institute, he added.
The Advisor expressed the hope that new and high standards will be established in the institute.
It may be recalled that the Union Government had approved the proposal for establishment of AIIMS at Jammu at Vijaypur, district. Samba under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) in January 2019.
Earlier CE CPWD Pardeep Kumar Dixit said the foundation stone of AIIMS, Jammu project was laid by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on February 3 last year. Estimated to be built at a cost of Rs. 1661 crores, the project is being executed by the CPWD. It is projected to be completed in 30 months by September 2023. It has a total build up area of 22315 sqm, he added.
He said once completed, AIIMS Jammu shall be a 750 bedded hospital with super speciality departments. It will also have a Medical College and a Nursing College. The AIIMS will be a green building incorporating the state of the art equipment and technology.
The welcome address was read by Prof Ravi Kant, Director AIIMS Rishikesh.
Dr Shalinder Handoo of AIIMS Rishikesh proposed the vote of thanks. The function was attended by Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atul Dulloo, former Ministers, C P Ganga and D K Manyal, ex-legislators Kuldeep Kumar, Vikram Randhawa, BJP leaders Prem Nath Dogra, Adv Vijay Sharma, Raghunandan Babloo, Rishpal Verma, Sanjeev Sharma, Bharat Sharma, Abhay Pargal and Keshab Khajuria.
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