‘Progress in education, health, power, land reforms'
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir administration described three dozen accomplishments in its progress report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), since the erstwhile state of Jammu Kashmir was reorganized into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir , and Ladakh – on August 5 last year.
According to the progress report, the J&K administration claims to have made progress in the education , health, power and land reforms sectors with a particular focus on providing their youth with education, training , and job opportunities.
Some of the milestones mentioned include the opening of 50 new degree colleges with a total of 25,000 seats; the operationalization of seven new medical colleges with 1,400 extra medical / paramedical seats, five new nursing colleges and one state cancer institute
“The State Staff Commission Board has started its recruitment drive, advertisements have been put out and the process is ongoing at each stage,” Jammu-Kashmir Rural Development Secretary Sheetal Nanda.
As per government data, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced 10,000 job opportunities for youngsters at various levels. As of now, advertisements have been placed for Grade 1V jobs and 1,800 accountants.
“Almost 2,000 account assistants are being recruited to assist Panchayats in smoothly executing its ever-increasing basket of functions,” a senior functionary in the power corridors of Delhi's North Block said.
To strengthen grassroot-level democracy, he said the reputed National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has been roped in for conducting a study and recommending staffing pattern for Panchayats so they have their own cadre for implementation of government schemes.
Under individual beneficiary orientation schemes, Himayat – meant to hire local youth after training – is turning out to be a great success. “School and college dropouts are given are given training as per their skills and out of the ones who are trained 70 per cent are given wage employments,” Ms Sheetal explained.
Government data shows that more than 74,000 candidates have been selected for various programmes under this scheme. Six lakh people are registered with the district employment and counselling centres across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Project Himayat aims to generate sustainable livelihood opportunities through self-employment for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” Rural Development Secretary Nanda explained.
The MHA's factsheet reflects that, under Himayat, youngsters trained as support staff for medical duties have been deployed in hospitals and on ambulance duty during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am connected with Himayat. While doing my course, I have also been earning by stitching PPE kits for doctors,” Imtiaz Khan of Reasi said.
The administration has also launched a Student Health Card scheme to ensure regular medical check-up of school going children.
