Read a list of SAC decisions approved
Govt to build residential complexes for police personnel on self-financing basis
SAC approves 20000 units to be constructed in Srinagar, Jammu, Anantnag, Baramulla, Udhampur, Kathua
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved in principle a proposal submitted by the Home Department for construction of 20,000 flats to be allotted to the police personnel on a self-financing basis.
Advisors to the Governor, B B Vyas, K Vijay Kumar, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and K K Sharma, Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and Principal Secretary to the Governor, Umang Narula were present at the meeting, which was 19th SAC meeting after the State came under the Governor’s rule in June this year.
10000 of these flats will be constructed in Kashmir Division and 10,000 in Jammu Division at one or two locations subject to the availability of land in each place.
These flats which would be in multistoried apartments will consist of 2 BHK (800 – 1000 sft), 3 BHK (1200 sft) and 4 BHK (1500 sft). The flats would come up in apartment blocks. The apartment complex will be provided with the required facilities such as parks, playgrounds, shopping areas, etc.
The flats are to be constructed over a period of two years for which State land will be provided by the Government on nominal charges. The flats would be allotted to intending police personnel on elf-financing basis. The Government will facilitate provision of loan from J&K Bank and other banks, if required. A demand survey will be conducted by the DGP to determine the exact demand of flats. This will be completed by 1st December, 2018.
The construction of these 20,000 houses will be a huge welfare measure for the police personnel.
It is pertinent to mention that there are extremely limited housing facilities for the J&K police personnel. The objective of the proposal is to create affordable housing facilities for various categories of police personnel along with other amenities. In this way the long pending housing need of the police personnel will be met.
SAC waives off demand raised by Commercial Taxes Deptt against 1573 flood-affected businesses
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved waiving off the demands raised by the Assessing Authorities of the Commercial Taxes Department against 1573 flood hit dealers by rejecting their input tax credit claim for the stocks destroyed in the floods of September 2014.
The Trade Associations and Chambers had been demanding waiver of demands raised by the Assessing Authorities against the flood affected dealers, by rejecting their input tax credit claim for the stocks destroyed in the floods of September, 2014, in view of the fact that the goods had got destroyed.
Taking into consideration the magnitude of the 2014 flood disaster, the misery it brought to all the sections of the Society, traders included and the fact that the stocks got destroyed in the flood, the SAC settled the long pending demand of the traders.
Academic arrangement Teachers, Lecturers to be deployed for winter tuitions
SAC approves utilization of services of such staff during winters also
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the proposal of the School Education Department for utilization of services of teaching staff hired on academic arrangement for two months of winter vacations (session 2018-19) in the winter zone i.e from 16th November 2018 to 15th January 2019 or till regular selections are made by the School Education Department on the recommendation of the recruiting agencies, whichever is earlier.
It is pertinent to mention that Education Department hires services of Teachers and Lecturers on need basis in various schools for academic session only to fill the vacancies especially in critical subjects like Math, Science etc.
The decision has been taken keeping in view the requirements of the Education Department; compensate the loss of academic session due to unforeseen circumstances in Kashmir Valley and gainful utilization of the services of these teachers in keeping with their experience and eagerness to work. They will be utilized to provide winter tuition to students so that they perform better academically.
SAC reviews efficacy of ReT scheme
Pupil Teacher Ratio in JK far better than national norms
ReT scheme frozen to facilitate regularization of teachers
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik reviewed the Rehabar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme viz-a-viz its efficacy in the changed education scenario in the state.
It is pertinent to mention that ReT scheme was launched in the State in the year 2000 for meeting requirements of teachers in Primary Schools/ Middle Schools in inaccessible and far flung areas where teachers posted from other places were ordinarily reluctant to join.
The scheme envisaged engagement of teachers from local area and had to be paid remuneration of Rs 1500 per month initially (later revised to Rs 3000 per month) and had to be regularized after five years of continuous service. Recruitments were made under the said scheme which helped the department to meet the shortage of teachers in deficient areas.
In the meantime, the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) was implemented in the State in the year 2003 which has a provision for opening of new Primary Schools as well as upgradation of Primary Schools to upper Primary level to increase access to education to every child. As the scheme had a provision for engaging teachers on contractual /consolidated basis out of the funds being provided by Government of India, the State stopped engagement of teachers under original ReT scheme but continued engagement of teachers under SSA on the pattern of the ReT scheme. More than 41000 teachers have been appointed as ReT/SSA teachers so far,
After critical analysis of the teaching staff in the School Education Department across the state under regular recruitment, SSA and RMSA, it has been observed that Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) is in excess than the prescribed national norm. The State has a PTR of 1:12 and 1:9 in Primary and Upper Primary Schools respectively which is higher than the prescribed national norm of 1:40 and 1:35 respectively. In addition, there are many administrative and legal issues with the ReT scheme/process, including declining quality of education.
In view of these issues, the SAC after considering the pros and cons, decided to formally close the ReT scheme with an enabling provision that the teachers already engaged under the scheme shall continue to be governed by the erstwhile scheme till their regularization or otherwise. The proposal for this is being finalized and will be put up to the SAC next week.
The decision would help the school education Department to consolidate the position and rationalize the staff strength in various schools and also move towards having a single cadre of teachers rather than multiple types of teachers performing the same work.
SAC approves rollout of Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana from Dec 1
Govt to pay 50% registration fee on behalf of beneficiary
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 14: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik approved the launch of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in the State with effect from 1st December, 2018.
The scheme will provide health insurance coverage to about 6.13 lakh families figuring in Socio-Economic Caste Census database to the tune of Rs 5 lakh per family per year with secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. There will be no cap on family size and all families included in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census will be entitled to claim the benefits. The scheme offers treatment in any of the 13,000 empanelled hospitals in the country under 1350 medical packages.
Institutional mechanism has already been put in place with the constitution of State Health Agency, District Implementation Units and Grievance Redressal mechanism.
Around 136 public and private hospitals have been empanelled in the State. 140 Arogya Mitras have been identified and they have undergone orientation and training programme. Intensive IEC activities like door-to-door campaign, newspaper advertisements have been started. IEC activities will be intensified in the coming days.
Golden Cards to all the eligible families are targeted to be issued by 15th December, 2018. The Golden Cards are being given through empanelled hospitals (free of cost) and through Common Service Centres (CSCs) at a cost of Rs 30. In order to incentivize the beneficiaries, Government has decided to chip in with 50% cost and the beneficiary has to now pay Rs 15 only instead of Rs 30 to the CSCs for registration. Rs 15 on behalf of the beneficiary will be paid by the Government.
SAC approves grant of joining time extension to 254 Medical officers as one-time exception
No such extension to be allowed for future selectees
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik approved the proposal of the Health & Medical Education department to grant extension in the joining time of 254 Medical Officers as a onetime exception.
These Medical Officers shall be entitled to all service benefits including seniority from the actual date of their joining the Health Department in accordance with the Service Rules. Their appointments in the department shall remain protected for the period only for which extension has been sought.
On joining the department, they will have to work in far flung and backward areas of the state for a minimum period of five years.
Further, in future selections/appointments of Medical Officers, selectee medical officers shall not be allowed to continue with PG/tenures of Senior Residency/Registrarship/Demonstratorship and they will have only one choice either to opt for appointment or opt out and go for PG/tenures of Senior Residency/ Registrarship/ Demonstratorship.
It has been observed that Health and Medical Education Department refers posts of Medical Officers to J&K PSC for recruitment but out of the selected doctors many do not join for being under studies, pursuing PG/Senior Residency/Registrarship/ Demonstratorship in Government Medical Colleges of State including Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura and other institutions. Such selectees often plead for permission to continue their higher studies or other courses. Thus, posts though filled through a recruitment process, physically remain vacant which in turn adversely impacts the services offered by Government Hospitals in terms of critical healthcare.
Now the Government after careful consideration and in the interest of patient healthcare has decided that in future selectee Medical Officers shall not be allowed to continue with PG/tenures of Senior Residency/ Registrarship/Demonstratorship and they will have only one choice either to opt for appointment or opt out and pursue PG/tenures of Senior Residency/ Registrarship/Demonstratorship.
The decision will help to further improve patient care in hospitals across the state particularly in remote far flung and difficult areas.
Liaison Officers to be positioned in 10 major cities to coordinate issues of JK students
‘Help Centers’ to be set up across these cities
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor Shri Satya Pal Malik approved positioning of designated Liaison Officers of J&K State Government in the cities of New Delhi, Noida/Meerut, Chandigarh, Aligarh, Bhopal, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai and Jaipur to coordinate with students of the State pursuing higher education in other parts of the country, whenever they are faced with the situations or incidents related to their regional identity.
Around 20,000 students of the State are pursuing higher studies in various colleges in other states. This year around 3820 students got admission to various undergraduate courses. Since 2012, J&K students have also availed opportunities to obtain admission in outside state colleges to undergraduate course under the Prime Ministers Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS).
The Liaison Officers positioned in these major cities will report directly to the Resident Commissioner, J&K at New Delhi and coordinate with him and the State Government regarding issues faced by students of J&K. The Higher Education Department will be overall coordinating Department in the State Government.
Each location will have a ‘Help Center’, a temporary office with basic facilities including telephone/internet. The details about the ‘Help Centers’ will be widely published. Student’s wherever necessary would also be engaged as Assistant Liaison Officers, on a stipend/honorarium.
Positioning Liaison Officers in major cities where concentration of J&K Students is higher will give the students greater sense of safety and security as they can easily contact the Liaison Officer in case of any apprehensions or trouble. This would also remove apprehensions among the intending students who wish to study in outside state colleges and encourage them to move out of state for higher studies and better pursuits.
Governor directs for making new Medical Colleges functional by next year
Takes stock of infrastructure, human resource issues in Health, Medical Education sectors; Selection process for 1000 Medical Officers to be completed by Dec 15
Governor Satya Pal Malik today called for expeditious completion of all necessary infrastructural and other facilities to ensure that the 5 new medical colleges in the state start functioning from the next academic session.
He also directed for fast-tracking recruitment of faculty and para-medical staff and completing all necessary requirements to fulfill the MCI norms for formally starting the academic activities in these colleges next year.
Advisors to Governor, K Vijay Kumar and KK Sharma, Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, Chairman J&K Public Service Commission, Latief-u-Zaman Deva, Principal Secretary to Governor, Umang Narula, Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary Finance, Navin K Choudhary, Principal Secretary, Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, Rohit Kansal, CommissionerSecretary PWD (R&B), Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Commissioner Secretary GAD, Hilal Ahmad Parray, Secretary Tourism, Rigzian Sampheal, Secretary PHE, Farooq Ahmad Shah and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Reviewing the functioning of the Health &Medical Education Department here this evening, Governor directed the Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education to personally monitor the progress of these colleges and maintain close coordination with the PSC/SSRB and executing agencies for early selection of all referred posts and putting up the requisite infrastructure in place within the set timeframe.
Pertinently, the five new Medical Colleges are coming up at Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anantnag and Baramulla for which Government of India has sanctioned Rs 189 crore each.
While updating on the present status of these colleges, Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education, in his power-point presentation informed that work on all five colleges is in full swing and likely to be achieved as per target. He said the construction activities are being monitored regularly with the concerned agencies and emphasis is laid to ensure timely completion of these projects.
Regarding recruitment of faculty and other staff, the Principal Secretary informed that all posts stand created and referred to the concerned recruitment agencies viz; JKPSC and JKSSRB and are being vigorously pursued for the fast-track recruitment to ensure early commissioning of these colleges. He also informed that necessary steps are being taken to arrange make-shift accommodation for these colleges before the visit of MCI team in December this year.
He said 3375 posts including doctors, para-medical and other staff stand already created for these medical colleges out of which 2225 vacancies including 330 faculty positions and 1895 para-medical vacancies have been referred to the recruiting agencies including JKPSC and JKSSB respectively.
Governor observed that health is the primary need of every individual and called for renewed efforts to upgrade the facilities in every health institution, especially in the far-off areas. He directed the Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education to ensure regular review of facilities with the field functionaries to plug the gaps, if any at the grassroots level. He directed for reviewing the supply position of medicines, diagnostic equipment and human resource to ensure hassle-free healthcare services for the people.
Atal Dulloo informed the meeting that to overcome the paucity of doctors, 1000 posts of medical officers have been referred to the PSC which are likely to be selected soon. Besides, 535 doctors have been engaged under NHM in the far-flung areas to supplement the services. In view of the dearth of Dental Surgeons, a proposal for the creation of 587 Dental Surgeons has been submitted to the Finance Department for approval. Similarly, 115 posts of Medical Officers in ISM Sector have also been referred to PSC for early selection, said the Principal Secretary.
Giving update on filling of the vacancies, Chairman, JKPSC, Latief-u-Zaman Deva apprised the meeting that process for recruitment of 1000 posts of Medical Officers and 115 posts of Medical Officers, AYUSH has been fast-tracked and assured to make selection by December 15, 2018. He also assured to finalize selections for the Faculty Members for the five medical colleges well in time to ensure timely commencement of academic session.
Governor also took stock of the preparedness for the formal launch of national flagship programme “Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-PMJAY” under Ayushman Bharat and directed for clearing all bottlenecks to ensure formal rolling out of this ambitious project on Ist of December, 2018. He urged the Chief Secretary to obtain regular feedback on the progress from all stakeholders to enable launch of the programme on scheduled date.
Briefing on the launch of Ayushman Bharat, it was informed that all necessary steps have been put in place to ensure this ambitious project on the scheduled date. The Principal Secretary informed that for the awareness of people the authorities have started door-to-door campaign, launched Ayushman Rath, publicity through print and electronic media and other activities to popularize the programme so that all targeted beneficiaries are covered. The process for issuance of Golden Cards and Prime Minister’s letters to the individual beneficiaries has also started and shall be completed by 15 December 2018, he added.
The Advisors, Kumar and Sharma and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam also put forth various valuable suggestions on how to further improve the healthcare facilities in the State.
