| News Details |
| Budget 2026-Sakeena Itoo hails CM's remote area incentives as remarkable | | Says step will streamline public service delivery in remote areas | 
Jammu, February 12 (Scoop News)- Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made a remarkable announcement of granting incentives to employees posted in far flung and remote areas while presenting Budget 2026-27.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question of Legislator Javaid Ahmad Mirchal in the House today.
She highlighted that this unique step will streamline the public service delivery in far flung and remote areas, particularly in vital sectors like Health, Education and others.
While giving details regarding measures taken to mitigate the dearth of medical/paramedical staff at SDH Tangdar Karnah, the Minister said that in order to cater to shortage of doctors in far flung/peripheral areas, the H&ME department has recently referred 480 posts of Medical Officers to JKPSC for recruitment. She added that after completion of the selection process, the newly selected doctors shall be posted to far-flung/under-served areas and health institutions facing shortage of staff including SDH Tangdar Karnah and other border areas as per requirement and policy in vogue.
The Minister also informed the House that 292 vacancies in the non-gazetted/paramedical category from the Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health (MCH) and Immunization have been referred to JKSSB for recruitment and stands advertised for making selection of suitable candidates.
She added that 802 non-gazetted, MTS vacancies and Sanitation Worker posts pertaining to Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir are under examination in the department for referral to JKSSB.
The Minister also informed the House that two doctors had been appointed as Medical Officers in the year 2024 and posted at NTPHC Hajinar and NTPHC Gundishor. She added that the two doctors failed to join duty, resulting in their appointment orders being cancelled and services terminated. She added that the two doctors failed to join duty, resulting in their appointment orders being cancelled and services terminated.
The Minister said that as per NHM guidelines, staff is ordinarily posted against the sanctioned positions in sub-centres of Karnah Constituency but over a period of time, a few NHM staff has been temporarily readjusted/relocated on exceptional and justified grounds like medical reasons or administrative exigencies, without adversely affecting the service delivery. She said that current the NHM staff posted in Karnah is largely in position.
Legislator, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) raised supplementary question.
ARTO Office construction underway in Sopore: Satish Sharma
Minister for Transport Satish Sharma today said that the construction work of ARTO Office building at Sopore was taken up few years back and subsequently stopped due to intervention of High Court as the locals of the area claim said land is grazing land (Khacharai).
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Irshad Rasool Kar in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed the House that the case is being vigorously followed by the department and necessary para wise reply in the instant case has already been submitted before the High Court.
The Minister said the existing Transport Yard in Sopore handles 150 buses/mini buses and the Truck Yard Fruit Mandi handles 350 trucks.
Govt examining proposal to notify new tourism areas in J&K: Javid Ahmad Dar
Minister for Agriculture, Javid Ahmad Dar today informed the House that the government is examining a proposal regarding the notification of new tourism-worthy areas across Jammu and Kashmir, including several prominent locations in Bani Constituency like Bani town, Lowang and Sarthal.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised by Legislator Dr. Rameshwar Singh in the House today.
Responding to a supplementary question, the Minister stated that the government is committed to take all necessary steps to strengthen the tourism infrastructure across Jammu division. He added that efforts will be made to establish rest houses and tourist huts at key tourist destinations to enhance facilities for the visitors and promote sustainable tourism.
The Minister further informed that, under the direction of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a Winter Carnival was conducted on 8 February, 2026 at Bani as part of the government’s broader initiative to promote tourism development in the region. He added that the event was held to showcase the natural beauty, cultural heritage and tourism potential of the area.
The Minister reiterated government’s commitment towards exploring and developing new tourist destinations to boost local economy, generate employment and position Jammu and Kashmir as a premier travel destination.
Annual flood protection works on river Tawi executed under UT CAPEX, NABARD: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana today informed the Legislative Assembly that flood management and protection works on River Tawi are executed every year as per approved plan under UT CAPEX and NABARD for River Training works and strengthening of embankments.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Surinder Kumar in the House today.
Javed Rana said several flood protection works under UT CAPEX are underway, with six completed and five ongoing. He added that River Tawi training work from Manwal to the Indo-Pak border is also in progress under NABARD.
The Minister further informed that three new works have been tendered for restoration and strengthening of embankment of river Tawi for an estimated cost of Rs. 769.96 lakh. He highlighted that these works include restoration of earthen embankment on the left bank of River Tawi at Bikram Chowk and upstream of Bikram Chowk Bridge, construction of damaged flood protection structures on the right bank of River Tawi near Hari Singh Park and construction of flood protection works to safeguard houses and land on the left bank of River Tawi at Chak Malhori Bajalta, adding that the project has already been tendered as approved.
I&FC Sub-Division boundaries not tied to constituency limits: Govt
The government today clarified that the boundaries of constituencies and Irrigation & Flood Control Sub-Divisions are determined independently and may not necessarily align.
This was stated by Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, in the Legislative Assembly today, while replying to a question raised by Legislator Kuldeep Raj Dubey.
The Minister informed the House that the jurisdiction of an Irrigation & Flood Control Sub-Division is decided on technical consideration of drainage and other things.
Responding to concerns regarding administrative or operational constraints, the Minister categorically stated that there is no lack of supervision or coordination gaps, nor has the existing administrative arrangement resulted in delays or public inconvenience.
He further clarified that there is no proposal under consideration to merge the Irrigation & Flood Control Sub-Division, Reasi, with the PHE Sub-Division, Reasi. The present administrative structure is functioning as per established norms and technical requirements, he added.
Legislators Khurshied Ahmed and Sham Lal Sharma raised supplementary questions on the subject seeking additional clarifications which were addressed by the government.
Uniform ST-I reservation implemented across J&K: Govt
The Government today informed the House that Scheduled Tribe (ST)-I reservation stands implemented uniformly across Jammu and Kashmir.
This was stated by Minister for Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, while replying to a question of Legislator, Dr. Narinder Singh Raina in the Legislative Assembly today.
The Social Welfare Minister informed that the reservation to ST-II category is not region based or area specific but is given on the basis of Pahari ethnicity to various groups as reflected in SO 176 of 2024. She added that the extension of ST-II reservation benefits to the Pahari ethnic group is based on their ethnic, cultural and linguistic identity and not region specific and is therefore consistent with the constitutional principles of equality, fairness and non-discrimination.
She also informed that no separate assessment has been undertaken, as the inclusion is based on ethnic identity and not on regional differentiation.
Legislators Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Dr. Rameshwar Singh raised the supplementary questions.
MMC operational in DIPR to track, rebut fake news, misinformation on real time basis: Govt
The government today informed the House that the Information Department has established a dedicated Media Monitoring Cell (MMC) in the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) to track fake and misleading news on real time basis and issue prompt rebuttals through press releases and official social media platforms.
This was stated by Education Minister, Sakeena Itoo, while replying to a question raised by Legislator R.S. Pathania regarding measures to tackle misinformation on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly today.
The Minister stated that the MMC continuously monitors print, electronic and social media platforms and as soon as any fake or misleading content is identified, rebuttals and fact-check posts are issued to keep the public informed.
She informed the House that 28 rebuttals have been issued by the DIPR between 1st April 2025 and 31st January 2026, through 20 press releases and eight through social media handles.
The Minister further said that all the departments have designated Nodal Officers to monitor department specific misinformation. She added that these officers have been provided login credentials to upload fake news details on a dedicated portal created by DIPR for timely rebuttal and dissemination.
The Minister also clarified that the regulation of websites, digital platforms and online news channels does not fall under the mandate of the Information Department, adding that the imposition of penalties or fines on organizations spreading misinformation is outside its purview.
The Minister also made it clear that the Information Department does not recognize or authorize any private Fact Checking Unit (FCU), nor does it verify or grade such entities.
Referring to the evolving media landscape, she said that suitable provisions have been proposed in the draft New Media Policy–2026 to establish a regulatory framework for news and social media along with print media and draft policy is currently under inter-departmental consultation for finalization.
Sharing inputs from the Information Technology Department, the Minister said that comprehensive measures have been undertaken to strengthen the cyber security infrastructure across government departments/institutions and provide them sustained support against the emerging cyber threats and digital manipulations.
She added that mandatory security audits of websites and web applications hosted on State Data Centre and NIC Mini Data Centre have been conducted besides redundant websites have been decommissioned.
She added that Cyber Crisis Management Plans have been prepared by all the departments while capacity building initiatives such as cyber drills, trainings, Cyber Jagrookta Diwas observance and mandatory iGOT cyber security courses are being carried out across the Union Territory.
In a supplementary reply, the Minister said rebuttals against fake or misleading news are also issued for publication in the immediate next edition of newspapers besides being uploaded on the official DIPR website.
She further highlighted that the J&K Media Policy 2020 authorizes DIPR to monitor content for fake news, plagiarism and unethical or anti-national activities and de-empanel media houses or withhold government advertisements in such cases. She added that if such entities are registered by the Press Registrar General of India under Press & Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, their de-registration is recommended under this Act.
Govt focused on consolidation of infrastructure in already upgraded Schools: Education Minister
Minister for Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that the department is currently focusing on consolidation of infrastructure and provision of teaching faculty in already upgraded Schools.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question of Legislator, Dr. Sajjad Shafi regarding up-gradation of Schools in Legislative Assembly today.
The Education Minister highlighted that up-gradation of schools is a continuous and ongoing process and such proposals are examined from time to time strictly in accordance with the prescribed norms and criteria.
She added that up-gradation requires the fulfilment of laid-down criteria and feasibility norms, like distance, feeding schools and top-class enrolment, which are prerequisites. She added that there is no immediate proposal with the government for up-gradation of existing schools to the next higher level.
She highlighted that up-gradation of schools to the next higher level involves significant financial implications for creation of infrastructure and teaching/non-teaching posts and therefore, requires concurrence from the Finance Department.
The Minister said that the areas like Uri require special consideration due to remoteness and limited access to higher education. She assured that institutions in Uri will be prioritised while upgrading the schools.
... |
| |
|
|
Share this Story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|