Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: Pushing forward the process of developing health infrastructure across the State, Minister for Health, Horticulture and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today dedicated newly constructed building of Primary Health Centre (PHC) to the people of Kathar, block Chowki Choura, here today.
The PHC building has been constructed by R&B with a cost of Rs187 lakh and would benefit over 10,000 souls of several villages.
On the ocassion, the Minister laid foundation stone of two roads to be constructed from Ardhan to Kathar with an estimated cost of Rs 670 lakh and Chowki Choura (Chijal) to Kathar with Rs 488 lakh. He also inaugurated Rs 144 lakh Water Supply Scheme and four lift irrigation schemes at Fundwal, Kah, Miari and Bhanara.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Coalition Government is focussing on infrastructural development of two core sectors-health and education. The construction of PHC building at Kathar is also part of the ongoing process, he added.
He said that Government has conferred the responsibility on the panchayat functionaries to supervise and monitor the basic services in rural areas so that the people get improved and uninterrupted services. He asked them to help in proper upkeep of the health institutions in rural areas. He also directed BMO Chowki Choura to improve labour and gynae units in the hospital.
To encourage the doctors and para-medical to serve in rural areas, the Government has recently increased the remuneration to all these doctors engaged under NRHM and efforts are on to give special allowance to all the doctors serving in the remote and hilly areas of the state, he maintained.
Maintaining that ASHAs are playing vital role in further improving healthcare services, the Minister said that these ground level functionaries have played greater role in containing the mother/infant mortality rate.
The Minister said that the Government is encouraging people to grow herbal cultivation in a big way to promote Ayush. In this regard, the Government has already constituted a herbal medicinal board in the State, he maintained.
He said that alone in Kathar area Rs 50 to 60 crore development works are being executed in various sector like PHE, Education, Power, Health, Irrigation and road connectivity etc.
Among others Deputy Director (Central) Baldev Raj Sharma, Deputy Director ISM, Dr Kashmir Singh, CMO Jammu, BMOs, Akhnoor, Chowki Choura, doctors, para-medico, ASHA workers, sectoral officers, sarpanchs and panchs were present on the occasion.
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