Question Hour
JAMMU, MARCH 28: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that the government is determined to eradicate drug menace across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator, Iftikar Ahmad, regarding “Drug De-Addiction Centre” in the Legislative Assembly.
She apprised that two Drug De-addiction centres are functional in Rajouri district, adequately catering to the needs of drug abuse victims adding that one Drug De-addiction centre is functioning at Old District Hospital Building, Rajouri, being run by NGO National Educational Society and Social Welfare Organization (NESSW). Besides, another Addiction Treatment Facility (ATF) is also functioning in Associated Hospital GMC, Rajouri (Kheora).
The Minister informed that out of around 822 patients admitted in these centres 558 have been treated. She added that Psychiatrist, Counsellor, Social Worker, Nurses, Pharmacist and Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) are providing regular services at the Drug De-addiction centre run by NESSW.
The Health Minister said that the two Drug De-Addiction Centres functioning in the district are adequately catering to the needs of the district, as reflected by the number of patients admitted and treated. She added that the government’s focus remains on reducing the incidence of drug abuse across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, rather than merely increasing the number of de-addiction centres.
She said that awareness and counselling initiatives are being actively conducted throughout the district under the guidelines of District Administration, maintaining close collaboration with Police, Social Welfare and other concerned departments under the Nasha Mukt Bharat initiative.
The Health Minister also said that in the last two years 2024-25 and 2025-26, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu has organized 53 camps mostly on every Monday which have covered about 19 Panchayats in District Rajouri. She added that GMC Rajouri has also conducted 5462 Awareness and Counseling programmes (3545 in the year 2024 and 1917 in 2025).
While replying to various supplementary questions, the Minister underlined that the Health department has deployed counselors in each village of Jammu and Kashmir to train former Panchayat members, religious preachers and heads, respectable citizens and others on tackling menace of drug abuse in the society. She also highlighted that the Health department is continuously providing treatment, counseling and rehabilitation facilities to drug abuse victims and the domain of law enforcement and conviction is not with the Health department.
The Minister added that the government is taking due action against the Drug De-addiction centres run by NGOs if they are violating any rules.
Legislators Dr. Bharat Bhushan and Tanvir Ali Sadiq raised supplementary questions.
Govt endeavours to strengthen irrigation network in Khansahib: Javed Rana
The government today reiterated that the irrigation network in Khansahib Constituency remains robust and fully functional, with extensive works being carried out over the past three years to strengthen canals, khuls and irrigation infrastructure.
The Government stated that all the major irrigation canals in the constituency remained operational during the last irrigation season, ensuring smooth water supply to the farmers.
Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest Ecology, Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana said that a comprehensive set of works has been executed under various schemes between 2023–24 and 2025–26.
Javed Rana was replying to a question raised by MLA Khansahib, Saif-ud-din Bhat regarding the irrigation facilities.
The Minister informed that during 2023–24, works worth ₹62.68 lakh were taken up, of which, ₹50.59 lakh have been utilized, achieving full physical completion in all the fields cases.
Similarly, in 2024–25, works amounting ₹31.28 lakh were undertaken with ₹ 22.83 lakh expended and all projects reported as fully completed.
For the ongoing 2025–26 financial year, works worth ₹54.62 lakh have been initiated, with ₹46.74 lakh already utilized.
It was informed that majority of these projects have been completed while the remaining are at various stages of progress.
The executed works included construction of guide walls, restoration and lining of canals, strengthening of vulnerable spots, leakage plugging, and development of irrigation channels across key locations such as Zani Canal, Lani Canal, Suresh Canal, Gogaldara Khul, Maninar Khul and others.
The Government further highlighted that major projects like Lad-Shanger Canal and Kenz Khul have been completed under NABARD funding, significantly enhancing the irrigation capacity and resilience in the constituency.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Government said sustained investments and targeted interventions are being undertaken to modernize the irrigation infrastructure, safeguard agricultural productivity and mitigate flood risks in Khansahib.
Rana also provided details of projects of various canals of Khansahib Constituency that have already been completed or near completion under NABARD/Languishing / PMKSY.
Providing details about the status of major irrigation projects in Khansahib Constituency, the Government informed that several key canals have been completed or are nearing completion under various schemes. Kenz Khul and Lad-Shanger have been fully completed under the Languishing and NABARD schemes, respectively.
Similarly, Suresh Khul, Maninar Khul and Gogaldara Khul have achieved 100% physical progress under PMKSY. Now Khul stands at an advanced stage of completion with 87% progress while work on Malla Khul is ongoing with 35% progress.
24 health facilities functional in 4 Medical Blocks of Srigufwara-Bijbehara Constituency: Health Minister
Says Govt is strengthening existing healthcare facilities under IPHS-2022 norms
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today informed the House that to address critical gaps in the health sector, the department is focusing on strengthening the existing healthcare facilities under IPHS-2022 norms and enhancing accessibility through telemedicine services (e-Sanjeevani) using a hub-and-spoke model to ensure improved quality services to the common masses.
The Health Minister stated this while replying to a question of Legislator, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri in Legislative Assembly regarding the Health sector.
The Minister informed that there are four Medical Blocks in the Srigufwara-Bijbehara Constituency, namely Qaimoh and Yaripora under the jurisdiction of CMO Kulgam and Bijbehara and Sallar under the jurisdiction of CMO Anantnag, who supervise the medical services in the area.
She added that 24 health facilities of different categories like PHCs, NTPHCs, Sub-Centres, falling under these four Medical blocks, are functional in Bijbehara-Srigufwara Constituency.
The Minister further said that at present, there is no proposal in the department to make the Medical Blocks of Srigufwara-Bijbehara co-terminus with the constituency. She added that the Medical Blocks have been established keeping in view the number of health institutions, population density, topography and accessibility, in line with the WHO standards.
The Minister also informed the House that the 110-bedded State-of-the-Art Trauma Hospital at Bijbehara has presently sanctioned strength of 08 B-Grade Consultant posts, of which, 04 specialists are in place while 02 sanctioned posts of Medical Officers are also in place. She added that against 24 sanctioned posts of paramedical staff, 11 are substantively filled.
The Health Minister also said that to address the vacancies and make the hospital fully operational in the interest of public healthcare, the department has already referred 480 posts of Medical Officers to J&K Public Service Commission for advertisement and selection of eligible candidates. She also said that 802 posts of Non-Gazetted staff, which included para-medical positions, are under consideration to be referred to J&K Services Selection Board for recruitment.
She informed that constant measures are being actively pursued to ensure that the Trauma Hospital Bijbehara becomes fully functional at the earliest, thereby serving the healthcare needs of the public effectively.
Regarding shortage of staff at PHCs/NTPHCs of K-Kalan, Veeri, Kanelwan, Adlash, Naina-GB Khalil, Subhanpora and Arwani, the Minister said that medical services in these facilities are presently being managed through internal adjustments and rationalization of available staff to ensure continuity of patient care.
She added that vacancies of doctors and paramedical staff are proposed to be filled up on a regular basis after receipt of the selection lists from the recruiting agencies and till such time, the department is adopting interim measures to ensure continuity of healthcare services in these areas.
Land alienation under S-432 matter under examination: Govt
Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology, Environment and Tribal Affairs , Javed Ahmed Rana, today informed the House that in terms of Government Order No. S- 432 of 1966 dated 03.06.1966, proprietary rights were conferred upon the cultivators of state lands who have already been declared as tenants – at – will in terms of Government order No LB/6-C of 1958 subject to various conditions including that the grantee shall use the land for Agricultural purposes only and shall not be entitled to alienate it with out the previous permission of the Government.
The Minister was replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah in response of the question raised by Chander Prakash Ganga.
The minister further stated that the matter is under examination in the department for appropriate action under law.
MLA, R S Pathania raised supplementary on the subject which were duly addressed by the Minister.
