Government committed to equitable development across all regions
SRINAGAR: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess developmental works, infrastructure projects, and welfare initiatives in the Mendhar and Rafiabad Assembly Constituencies.
The meeting was attended by Cabinet Ministers Javed Ahmed Rana and Javid Ahmed Dar, Additional Chief Secretary Higher Education Shantamanu, Secretary Health & Medical Education Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Directors of School Education and Health Services (Kashmir/Jammu), besides senior officers of the concerned departments.
Sakeena Itoo stressed the need to accelerate ongoing projects in healthcare, education, and social welfare. She urged officers to resolve bottlenecks hampering public service delivery, reiterating that border and rural constituencies like Mendhar and Rafiabad must receive equal opportunities in development.
“Our priority is to ensure healthcare, education, and basic facilities reach every household, particularly in remote and border areas. The government remains committed to outreach, inclusion, and corrective measures for effective planning,” she said.
Raising sectoral concerns, Minister Javed Rana highlighted staff shortages in border schools and pressed for urgent recruitment. He called for speedy completion of the Model School at Pathanatir, girls’ hostels at Balakot and Mendhar, and other long-pending infrastructure. He also emphasized introducing science streams in schools to equip youth with modern education. On healthcare, he demanded immediate filling of vacancies, better staffing of hospitals, and optimal use of Mobile Medical Units for nomadic and underserved populations.
Minister for Agriculture, Javed Dar, flagged issues in his constituency, including vacant posts in educational institutions, incomplete or abandoned buildings, and the need for funds to finish Sub-District Hospital Rohama. He also raised concerns about pending compensation to land donors and problems faced by Government Degree College Bomai and girls’ hostels at Watergam and Rohama.
Responding to the concerns, Sakeena Itoo assured transparency in completing pending projects and promised to address the raised issues at the earliest. She said a detailed plan will be prepared to address staff shortages in healthcare and education. She further directed rational deployment of existing resources and timely filling of vacancies to ensure uninterrupted services in schools, colleges, hospitals, and health centres of both constituencies.
