The State Administrative Council accorded sanction to the first ever Drug De-addiction Policy to provide for a comprehensive mechanism to address the menace of drug addiction in Jammu and Kashmir.
Advisors to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to Governor, Umang Narula attended the meeting.
The issue of functioning of various De-addiction facilities and provision of good health conditions to the inmates, establishment of rehabilitation centres, Drug De-addiction Centres and providing a comprehensive mechanism to address this malady has been a subject matter of PIL No. 317/05 in the case titled Javid Iqbal V/s State of J&K and others.
The Court had directed the State Government to draft the Drug De-addiction Policy and provide a more comprehensive mechanism to address the menace of drug addiction. Consequent to this a series of meetings were chaired by the Chief Secretary and slew of directions were issued to Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department including the release of Rs 50,000 each to GMC, Jammu and Srinagar to facilitate an empirical study on the extent of Drug Addiction and De-addiction challenges. The H&ME Department was also asked to appoint Nodal Officers to integrate/monitor the activities regarding Drug De-addiction across the various Departments in the State.
The Policy drafted by the Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience’s, Government Medical College, Srinagar incorporates inputs from experts of SKIMS Bemina, GMC Jammu and State AIDS Control Organization. The Policy paper was extensively deliberated by a Committee of officers in the H&ME Department headed by Principal Secretary, H&ME Department. The Committee made its recommendations in the form of a Draft Drug De-Addiction Policy which was also put in the public domain by the Department for inviting suggestions/comments and many useful suggestions/comments received from various notable institutes like TATA Institute of Social Sciences, NIMHANS, PGI and State Crime Branch were incorporated in the final draft. The H&ME Department pursued the finalization of the draft policy vigorously.
The Policy focuses on various key aspects including prevention, rehabilitation and integration, training and sensitization, community participation, generating awareness, upgradation/establishment of drug de-addiction centers. It lays out a comprehensive action plan for addressing the drug addiction issue in its entirety.
Backward Classes: Income ceiling enhanced to Rs 8 lakh
The State Administrative Council approved enhancement in the income ceiling from Rs 4.50 lakh to Rs 8 lakh in respect of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes for availing reservation benefits as per provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
Advisors to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Kumar Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to Governor, Umang Narula attended the meeting.
As per provisions of the Act, reservation in employment and admissions in professional institutions, among others is provided to the persons belonging to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes categorized as Weak and Underprivileged Classes (Social Castes), Residents of Areas adjoining Actual Line of Control and Residents of Backward Areas. However, there is an income bar/ceiling for availing this reservation. The objective of prescribing the income ceiling in the Act is to prevent such persons, as have crossed or shall cross the threshold level of backwardness commonly known as ‘Creamy Layer’ from availing benefits of reservation under the categories of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.
The ceiling income which existed at Rs 3 lakh earlier was raised to Rs 4 lakh in September, 2012.
The demand for raising the limit of income ceiling has been repeatedly raised by the Members of the backward classes through the State Advisory Board for the welfare and development of other classes and other associations. With a view to examine the enhancement in the income ceiling, a four Member Committee was constituted by the government which recommended enhancement of the income ceiling from Rs 4.5 Lakh to Rs 8 Lakh.
The SAC decision will immensely benefit large population belonging to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes for their inclusion within the ambit of reservation to reap various benefits available under the said Act/Rules.
675 posts of nursing staff approved for 5 new medical colleges
The State Administrative Council accorded sanction to the creation of 675 posts of nursing staff for the newly created Government Medical Colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua & Rajouri.
As per the Medical Council of India (MCI) norms, nursing staff strength of 175 posts is required during first year of establishment of a new Medical College. However, the existing strength of nursing staff in the District Hospitals, deployed in new medical colleges to serve as Associated Hospital of the Medical Colleges are not sufficient to meet the MCI requirement. Accordingly, a need to create 675 posts of nursing staff has been felt to fulfill the MCI requirement.
Once the requirements of MCI are fulfilled, the Health and Medical Education Department shall approach the MCI for final inspection of these five new medical colleges and issuance of Letter of Permission (LoP) to start the 1st batch of MBBS course in these medical colleges.
With the start of five new Medical Colleges in the J&K State, the intake capacity of students for MBBS course shall increase substantially with corresponding increase in number of trained medical professionals every passing year.
Rs 186 cr project for rejuvenation of River Devika, Tawi in Udhampur
The SAC approved the proposal of the Housing & Urban Development Department for Implementation of the project namely “Pollution Abatement of River Devika and River Tawi at Udhampur Town” under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).
The project will be executed at an estimated cost of Rs. 186.74 Crore based on 90:10 funding pattern between the Government of India and the State. Both the rivers are considered sacred by the people; however, pollution levels and silt deposition over the years have increased.
The project inter-alia includes construction of 3 Sewage Treatment Plants of 8 MLD, 4 MLD and 1.6 MLD capacity, complete Sewerage Network of 129.27 Km, development of 2 Cremation Ghats on North and South side, development of 2 Veding Ghats, protection fencing and landscaping, small scale Hydro Power Plants and 3 Solar Power Plants.
The Urban Environmental Engineering Department would be the main authority for project implementation, operation and maintenance of the project.
The SAC also directed the Housing and Urban Development Department to devise ways and means of restoring the water flow in the river Devika to an optimum level so that the river can perform its natural functions.