Boost to nursing, paramedic education in J&K as seats reach 1300
10 GNMs upgraded with 5 new nursing colleges
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Oct 3: In a move aimed at strengthening nursing and paramedical education in the Union Territory of J&K, the Government has undertaken a series of initiatives which includes the upgrading of 10 General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) schools and the establishment of 5 new nursing colleges, resulting in a total of 55 nursing colleges across the region.
Among these institutions, 15 are Government-operated, while 40 are privately run, offering an increased number of seats, expanding from a mere 500 to a substantial 1300 in the Government sector.
Dr Yashpal Sharma, Director (Coordination), New Govt. Medical Colleges, Nursing & Paramedical Colleges, J&K, shared insights with Excelsior, highlighting the progress made in enhancing nursing and paramedical education in J&K.
“In these operational Government Colleges, faculty positions have been sanctioned, although in some cases, faculty arrangements are still in progress. Wherever needed, we have also ensured temporary faculty arrangements to ensure that courses continue. Most of these colleges are situated within Medical Colleges and district hospitals, where we already have staff to assist the students,” he said.
Notably, alongside the establishment of new nursing colleges, 10 existing colleges are currently undergoing upgrades, with many already operational and admitting students. Additionally, the private sector is actively participating by offering Bachelor of Science (BSc) nursing courses.
As a result, as per official figures, the total number of seats for B.Sc Nursing in Government Colleges in J&K has reached 780, while in the private sector, there are nearly 2,000 seats.
The Government’s commitment to improving healthcare education extends beyond nursing, as it is actively working to enhance paramedical education in the region. In this regard, the B.Sc Paramedics programs have been introduced in both new and existing Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) across J&K.
Dr. Sharma explained, “While all the General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) programs in nursing education have been converted, we have also admitted students for B.Sc Paramedics in various GMCs. The course is currently underway.”
This expansion of paramedical education includes B.Sc programs in Dialysis and Lab Technician fields, which were previously unavailable in the region, ensuring skilled hands for dialysis and in labs.
Furthermore, the Government of India has also provided substantial financial support, granting Rs 6 crores for the upgradation of GNM Schools to accommodate B.Sc Nursing courses, in addition to a contingency grant.
Out of this, as per officials, Rs 3.75 crore has already been released, while the remaining funds expected to be disbursed this year. These funds, the officials believe, will further contribute to the overall enhancement of educational institutions focused on nursing.
Dr Sharma also highlighted a Government program mandating that every medical college must have an associated nursing college.
To support the implementation of this initiative, Rs 10 crores are being allocated to facilitate the establishment of these associated nursing colleges.
“We had it already implemented in all the Medical Colleges except for Handwara, for which we have already submitted a proposal to the Government of India, and it has been approved. Rs 1.50 crore has been released in our favour,” he added.
Dr. Sharma emphasized that these measures will enable Jammu and Kashmir to produce more skilled professionals in nursing and paramedics.
“This not only promises increased employment opportunities but also ensures that the region can meet the growing demands of existing healthcare facilities and newly established Medical Colleges.”
