POONCH: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Itoo, chaired a high-level review meeting today to assess the functioning of the Health, Social Welfare, and Education departments in Poonch district.
The meeting was attended by MLA Haveli Ajaz Ahmed Jan, MLA Surankote Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Deputy Commissioner Poonch Vikas Kundal, Director Social Welfare Jammu, Director School Education Jammu, Director Health Services Jammu, Director Colleges, Medical Superintendent District Hospital Poonch, along with other district and sectoral officers.
Focus on Education
Reviewing the education sector, the Minister took stock of ongoing construction projects and instructed the concerned agencies to expedite work to ensure early completion and public utilization. She emphasized the need for deployment of subject-specific teachers, especially in remote and border areas, and directed the rationalization of teaching staff accordingly.
She also highlighted the importance of periodic teacher training, strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs), and enhancing community participation to improve the quality of education.
“Education is the foundation of society. The government is committed to investing in both human resources and infrastructure to secure a bright future for our children,” she stated.
Healthcare Assessment
In the health sector, the Minister sought detailed updates on ongoing projects and the staff status across healthcare institutions. She instructed the Director Health Services Jammu to immediately cancel all unauthorized doctor attachments and ensure they report to their original postings. She also called for weekly or as-needed deployment of doctors to remote areas to ensure healthcare access at the grassroots level.
“A healthy society is the backbone of development. People in rural and border areas must have equitable access to quality healthcare,” she said.
She also directed health officials to reduce patient referrals to tertiary institutions by strengthening local healthcare facilities.
Social Welfare Initiatives
Reviewing the implementation of social welfare schemes, the Minister stressed the importance of transparency in beneficiary selection. She instructed officials to conduct more awareness camps in rural and tribal areas to ensure that no eligible individual is left out due to lack of information.
“Social welfare is not just about financial support; it is about dignity, inclusion, and empowerment of the vulnerable,” she added.
Local Concerns and Department Briefing
MLAs Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Choudhary Mohammad Akram raised constituency-specific concerns, which the Minister assured would be addressed promptly.
Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal presented a comprehensive overview of departmental performance, covering key metrics such as student enrolment, teacher strength, infrastructure development, school upgrades, ambulance availability, and healthcare service delivery.
He also detailed various social welfare services, including old-age, widow, and PHC pensions, the State Marriage Assistance Scheme, the Motorised Tricycle Scheme, child protection measures, one-stop centres, and the District Hub for Women Empowerment.
