Amid health crisis, 60% of posts vacant at GMC Rajouri

Hospital lacks MRI, Cath Lab; Principal writes to Health Secy; residents urge govt to address shortages

Srinagar, Jan 27 (KNO): Amid the ongoing health crisis in the Badhal area of Rajouri district, the Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri is grappling with a severe staff shortage, with around 60% of sanctioned posts currently vacant.

Official sources informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that nearly 62% of the sanctioned positions at GMC Rajouri remain unfilled, which affects the institution’s functioning.

“Out of 23 sanctioned posts for professors, only one professor is currently available,” an official said, adding that the hospital is also facing acute shortages of doctors and paramedics, leaving key departments understaffed and overburdened.

The hospital lacks critical diagnostic and treatment facilities, including an MRI machine and a Cath Lab, forcing patients from Rajouri and neighbouring Poonch district to travel to Jammu for advanced medical care.

Residents of Rajouri and Poonch have expressed concern over the inadequate healthcare facilities and have urged the government to address the shortages in staff and infrastructure at GMC Rajouri.

MLA Budhal, Javed Iqbal Choudhary said the hospital is in a dire state. “The hospital is severely short-staffed and is functioning without many essential diagnostic facilities,” he said.

Principal GMC Rajouri has formally requested the Health and Medical Education Department to establish an MRI facility at the hospital.

In a letter to the Health Secretary, a copy of which has been accessed by KNO, the Principal stated: “In continuation of Office No. GMCR/2022-23/9754-59 dated 21.11.2022 and in reference to the request submitted by the In-charge Head of the Department, Radio Diagnosis & Imaging, GMC Rajouri, it is forwarded with a request to kindly direct the concerned authorities for the establishment of an MRI facility at the Associated Hospital of GMC Rajouri.”

In light of the mysterious illness that claimed 17 lives in Badhal village, authorities recently deployed 10 paediatricians and anesthesiologists to GMC Rajouri. All leaves for doctors and paramedics have been cancelled under a medical alert issued by the administration.

The residents of Rajouri have appealed to the government to prioritise the hospital’s needs. They said the absence of proper medical facilities in this frontier district is causing undue suffering. Local treatment options should be improved to minimise patient reliance on distant healthcare facilities, they added—(KNO)

Govt hikes monthly stipends for FMGs to Rs 12,300

Srinagar, Jan 27 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday granted sanction to the stipends in favour of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).

As per an order issued by Health and Medical Education Department, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Foreign Medical Graduates to get a stipend of Rs 12300 per month for a year and the stipend shall be paid to eligible FMG internees from the date of issuance of the order.

The sanction is subject to the conditions that the payment of stipend to FMGs conforms to NMC guidelines, there is availability of funds under the relevant account head and the stipend for FMG’s pursuing internships in Private Medical Colleges of JK UT, shall be borne by the concerned colleges.

These issues with the concurrence of the Finance Department conveyed vide U.O. No. FD-Code/62/2021-03-1087 dated 17-01-2025, reads the order—(KNO)

Govt distributes over 75 Pc textbooks in schools: Edu Minister

Teachers defy the claims of textbooks distribution in Govt Schools

Srinagar, Jan 27: The government on Monday claimed to have distributed more than 75 percent of free textbooks in the government-run-schools.

Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Observer, Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Sakina Itoo said that more than 75 percent free textbooks have been already distributed in the government schools.

Itoo said, “More than 75 percent of textbooks have been lifted from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) to the schools.”

“In case of the remaining textbooks, we will soon distribute them among the remaining institutions,” she said.

Meanwhile, the teachers of several government-run-schools informed KNO that they were yet to receive free textbooks for the students.

One of the teachers from Srinagar said, “We have not received any textbooks from our concerned zonal offices.”

He said, “As the schools are observing winter vacations, the students are still waiting for their textbooks.”

“It seems that the students of government-run-schools who are waiting to get free textbooks will not be able to complete their winter assignments due to the non-availability of textbooks,” he said.

In the meantime, another teacher from north Kashmir’s Bandipora and south Kashmir’s Pulwama district narrated the same ordeal saying that the precious time of students is being wasted.

“The schools in majority of the schools in Bandipora are yet to receive the consignment of textbooks to be distributed among the students,” said a government teacher from Bandipora.

He said, “May be the concerned authorities have lifted the textbooks from JKBOSE but the schools are yet to receive them.”

Pertinently, the Education Minister in the first week of January had said that the students enrolled in government-run-schools of Jammu and Kashmir will receive free textbooks by the month-end—(KNO)

22 JKAS officers transferred in J&K

Srinagar, Jan 27 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday ordered the transfer and posting of 22 JKAS officers in the interests of administration.

According to an order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Munir-ul-Islam, Chief JKAS, has been transferred and appointed as Secretary in the Information Department.

Ajaz Abdullah Saraf, JKAS, Additional Transport Commissioner, J&K, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer/Secretary of the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.

Firdous Ahmad Giri, JKAS, Additional Director SKIMS, Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as Mission Director RUSA, J&K. Qazi Sarwar, JKAS, Additional Commissioner in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, has been appointed as Director, Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir.

Bashir Ahmad Wani, JKAS, Additional District Development Commissioner, Kulgam, has been appointed as Additional Registrar Cooperatives, Kashmir. Altaf Ahmad Khan, JKAS, Additional Registrar Cooperatives, Kashmir, has been transferred and appointed as Additional District Development Commissioner, Kulgam.

Akram Ullah Tak, JKAS, Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, has been posted as Additional Commissioner in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.

Pran Singh, JKAS, Additional District Development Commissioner, Doda, has been appointed as Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department. Zahoor Ahmad Mir, JKAS, Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, has been posted as Additional Director SKIMS, Srinagar. Sanjay Gupta, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Samba), has been transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Mining Department.

Arun Kishore Kotwal, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government, Mining Department, has been posted as Additional Transport Commissioner, J&K. Bal Krishan, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Bhaderwah, has been transferred and posted as Additional Registrar Cooperatives, Jammu.

Masarat Hashim, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Pahalgam, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Labour Commissioner (Central), J&K. Shahnawaz Shah, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Kokernag, holding additional charge of Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Verinag, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner.

Waseem Raja, JKAS, Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Central) Kashmir, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment. Ajeet Singh, JKAS, Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Development Authority, Bani-Basohli, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, State Taxes, Enforcement (Samba).

Mridhu Salathia, JKAS, Additional Mission Director, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Jammu, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department. She will also hold the additional charge of Mission Director, National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), in addition to her own duties, until further orders. Ideel Saleem, JKAS, Deputy Labour Commissioner (Central), J&K, has been posted as Additional Secretary in the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Kashmir.

Mir Nasrool Hilal Jeri, JKAS, Joint Registrar, Cooperative (Audit), Srinagar, has been posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department. Manpreet Kour, JKAS, Assistant Commissioner, State Taxes Department, Jammu, has been posted as Additional Mission Director, J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Jammu.

Bureeda Majid, JKAS, Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD) Budgam, has been transferred and posted as Programme Officer, ICDS Project, Ganderbal. Hilal Ahmad Mir, JKAS, awaiting orders of adjustment in the General Administration Department, has been posted as Project Officer, Wage Employment (ACD) Budgam—(KNO)

J&K Govt Revises DA to 53% for Employees and Pensioners

Arrears from July to December 2024 to Be Paid in Cash in February 2025

Srinagar, Jan 27 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) for its employees and pensioners to 53%, effective from July 1, 2024, according to two official orders issued by the Finance Department.

As per an order issued by the J&K Government Finance Department, a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS reads, government employees working under the 7th Pay Commission recommendations will now receive DA at 53% of their Basic Pay, up from the previous rate of 50%.

The term “Basic Pay” in the revised pay structure refers to the pay drawn in the prescribed level in the Pay Matrix as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendations, excluding special pay and other allowances.

The arrears for the additional DA installment from July 2024 to December 2024 will be paid in February 2025, and the revised rates will form part of the monthly salary from January 2025 onwards, it reads.

Similarly, as per another order issued by the Finance Department reads the DA for pensioners and family pensioners has been revised to 53% of their Basic Pension or Basic Family Pension, up from the previous 50%.

The arrears for pensioners and family pensioners for the same period will also be disbursed in February 2025, while the revised rates will be reflected in pensions and family pensions starting January 2025, reads the order. (JKNS)