Will provide large scale investment in healthcare sector including nursing homes, Colleges
Focus on providing best health care facilities
‘State Health Care Investment Policy-2019’ approved by SAC
Jammu, Mar 08 (KNS): The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved the “State Health Care Investment Policy-2019”.
The salient features of the Policy include (i) 30% subsidy on Capital Investment to be provided for setting up of Multi Speciality Hospitals, Super Speciality Hospitals, Medical Colleges, Nursing Colleges and Paramedical Colleges. The subsidy on Capital Investment will be limited to a maximum of Rs 3 crore in cities with population less than 10 lakh and a maximum of Rs 5 crore in cities with a population of more than 10 lakh as per 2011 census. (ii) Interest Subsidy @5% per annum on term loan subject to a ceiling of Rs 15 lakh per year for a period of five years from the date of operationalization of the project. (iii) Subsidized power tariff rates as applicable to the Industries Sector. (iv) 100% Subsidy on purchase and installation of DG sets with upper ceiling of Rs 45 lakh. (v) One time subsidy upto 25% of the cost incurred on induction training of nursing and paramedical staff will be provided by the State Government, capped at a maximum of Rs 12,000 per person. (vi) The Promoters/Investors setting up the project shall be free to establish the unit on their own property/acquired land subject to eligibility of the same as per defined land use. (vii) Allotment of land at premium rates as applicable under Industrial Policy of 2016 through land bank to be created through SIDCO & SICOP. (viii) For Multi/Super Speciality Hospitals to be set up outside Municipal Corporation limits, land up to 5 acres for 200 bedded hospitals and upto 10 acres for 500 bedded hospitals will be provided subject to the availability of land. (ix) Minimum Capital Investment required is Rs 80 crore for 200 bedded hospitals and Rs 200 crore for 500 bedded hospitals, within a period of five years. (x) Medical Colleges being set up outside Municipal Corporation limits will be provided land upto 25 acres at a token premium of Rs. 1 per kanal, subject to the availability of land. Minimum Capital Investment required will be Rs 200 crore to be made within a period of five years. (xi) Single window clearance mechanism will be adopted for processing the project proposals with final approval to be accorded by Apex Level Project Clearance Committee (ALPCC).
Under the Policy, Government may declare a well defined geographical area as ‘Medical City’ for having potential and being conducive for development and promoting medical tourism in the state.
The State HealthCare Investment Policy-2019 aims to promote/ encourage private parties/ entrepreneurs to set up healthcare infrastructure in the state for which Government shall provide subsidies on various fronts to the entrepreneurs. The Policy has been drafted after extensive deliberations in the health Department. The Policy is expected to improve accessibility of quality healthcare services to the people, promote establishment of hospital infrastructure, medical and allied educational infrastructure and establish Jammu and Kashmir as a destination of choice for health care service providers in the private sector, besides promoting medical tourism.
It is noteworthy to mention that private healthcare sector in the State has not come up like in other States with around 80% of the healthcare facilities being provided by the public sector. In the absence of private sector, there is huge rush of patients in the Government institutions which affects the quality of patient care available. There are many Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Sub Centres functioning from rented buildings with some being under staffed. As per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, J&K still requires 69 new community Health Centres, 222 PHCs and 1396 Sub Centres. Even for implementation of Ayushmaan Bharat, Hospitals, Nursing Homes would be required in private sector for its implementation.
SAC approves creation of 33 posts in GMC Jammu/ Srinagar for better career progression
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the creation of 33 posts in Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar.
The posts include 1 post each of Chief Occupational Therapist, Head Occupational Therapist, Senior Occupational Therapist, Junior Occupational Therapist, Assistant Medical Record Officer, Medical Record Supervisor, Technical Supervisor, Technical Supervisor, Store Officer and Section Officer in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar, 2 posts of Head Assistants in GMC Jammu and 1 post in GMC Srinagar, 2 posts each of Senior Assistants in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar, 3 posts each of Junior Assistant in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar and one post each of Steno Typist in GMC Jammu and GMC Srinagar.
With the creation of these 33 posts, the long pending issues of stagnation of the employees in these two medical colleges would get addressed to a large extent.
SAC approves inclusion of Jogi/Yogi/Nath/Bouria/Boria/Bowaria communities in the list of OSCs
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved the proposal of inclusion of Jogi/Yogi/Nath/Bouria/Boria/Bowaria communities in the categories of Other Social Castes (OSCs).
Pertinent to mention that the Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Backward Classes is the appropriate body to recommend the inclusion of communities in the list of backward classes. The advice of the Commission is ordinarily binding on the Government.
The Commission is mandated to examine requests for inclusion of any class of citizens as a Backward Class in the lists and hear complaints of over-inclusion or under-inclusion of any Backward Class in such list and tender such advice to the Government as it deems appropriate.
Various criteria/parameters are adopted by the Commission for declaring any class as ‘Backward’. These largely include socio-economic backwardness together with various other indicators.
Population of Boria, Bouria/Bowaria in the State is roughly 1500 with very low literacy rate of just 12%. They usually work as laborers. As regards Yogi/Jogi/Nath Community, Mandal Commission has declared Jogi/Yogi/Nath Community as Backward class. Their population in the State is approximately 40,000.
Keeping in view the inferior living conditions of these groups, the Backward Class Commission has recommended their inclusion in the other social caste category (OSCs).
The decision will go a long way in benefiting these communities in reaping the benefits of reservation.
The reservation in direct recruitment is to the extent of 43% which includes SC (8%), ST (10%), OSC (2%), ALC (3%), RBA (20%). Besides, ex-servicemen and physically challenged are entitled to horizontal reservation to the extent of 6% and 3% respectively.
Presently, 26 social caste communities are entitled to the benefit of 2% reservation under J&K Reservation Rules of 2005.
SAC approves re-hiring of Lecturers on academic arrangement for continued academic activities
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the temporary re-hiring of willing eligible Lecturers who have already rendered their services during the last academic year 2018-19, purely on academic arrangement basis for the academic session 2019 from 11.03.2019 to 30.06.2019, subject to the fulfilment of the conditions attendant to such engagements as per relevant recruitment rules.
The decision has been taken to ensure continuity in academic activities in the Higher Secondary Schools and in larger interest of the student community. While the academic session in Kashmir division is due to commence from 11th March, 2019, the same is due to commence in Jammu division from April, 2019.
The academic arrangement has also become inevitable in view of up-gradation of 200 additional schools to Higher Secondary Schools along-with creation of 2200 posts which are to be utilized for promotion as one time relaxation in keeping with the SAC decision for conversion of ReTs/RRETs as Teachers Grade-II .
The School Education Department has authorized Director School Education Jammu/Kashmir for engagement of Lecturers on academic arrangement basis for the session-2019. However, in view of the ensuing elections coupled with the likely enforcement of Model Code of Conduct by the Election Commission of India in coming days, the process for engagement of Lecturers is likely to take some more time.
Every year School Education Department engages teachers/lecturers purely on academic arrangement basis in various Higher Secondary Schools to overcome the shortage of teaching staff.
SAC in its meeting held on 14.11.2018, had approved re-hiring of willing teachers and Lecturers for a period of two months i.e from 16th November, 2018 to 15th January, 2019.
SAC approves re-hiring of subject specific teachers under Samagra Shiksha
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved temporary re-hiring of eligible subject specific Teachers who have rendered their services during the last academic year 2018-19 to run classes in the 110 upgraded schools under RMSA.
The School Education Department proposed re-hiring of these teachers from 11.03.2019 in winter zone schools and 01.04.2019 in summer zone schools upto 30.06.2019 or till the provision of regular teaching staff by the department by way of rationalization, whichever is earlier.
This decision has been taken to ensure continuance of the academic activities in the schools situated mostly in far flung areas and in the larger interest of the student community. The re-hiring is also necessary in view of the likely imposition of Model Code of Conduct.
Pertinent to mention that 550 subject specific Teachers were engaged on contract basis by School Education Department for one year (from 26.02.2018) in the 110 High Schools under erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme RMSA, now Samagra Shiksha. Teachers have been provided to run the classes of 9th and 10th in various subjects.
These candidates were engaged on the basis of recommendations of a Committee constituted by the School Education Department and are paid a consolidated salary as per MHRD approval. Their term of engagement came to an end on 25.02.2019.
SAC approves extension in amnesty scheme upto 31st March, 2019 for settlement of arrears of Old Tax regime
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the extension of date of depositing of 2nd instalment of arrears of Old Tax regime under amnesty scheme for streamlining the implementation of Goods and Services Tax upto 31st March, 2019.
The amnesty scheme announced by the Government in February, 2018, in addition to various other provisions, provides for 100% remission of penalty and interest on arrears of tax for dealers under the provisions of J&K VAT Act, 2005 (now repealed) and J&K Sales Tax Act, 1962.
As per the provisions of the scheme, it is mandatory for the dealers to pay the arrears, assessed/re-assessed /admitted upto the accounting year 2016-17 in three equal instalments. The due date for depositing of 2nd instalment expired on 31st January, 2019.
On the request from various stake holders, the Government has decided to extend the date of depositing of 2nd instalment upto 31st March 2019, so that the inconvenience faced by the dealers in depositing their instalment is addressed.
It may be mentioned that the 2nd instalment was due from 2001 dealers, out of which 817 dealers have deposited the 2nd instalment.
Measures to address shortage of nursing staff
85 posts created for Nursing Schools to make them fully functional
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the the creation of 85 posts for 6- Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) Schools and 5- General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) Schools in the State.
The posts created include 06 posts of Principal, 18 posts of Nursing Tutor and 06 posts of Clerk for ANM Schools and 05 posts of Principal, 35 posts of Sister Tutor, 05 posts of Clerk, 05 posts of Library Assistant and 05 posts of Lab Attendant for GNM Schools.
As per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, the health sector in the State is facing shortage of Nurses. As per the IHPS norms the ratio of nurses to a bed is 1:5 and in ICU 1:1. However, in J&K it is 1:10. Health Department requires around 3193 Nurses while the actual staff strength is 1290, thereby, leaving a gap of around 1900 Nurses.
06 ANM and 5 GNM Schools were sanctioned by Government of India in 2009-10 on 85:15 funding pattern. The ANM schools are in Bandipora, Budgam, Kishtwar, Ramban and Shopian and GNM Schools are in Kulgam, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Pulwama and Kargil.
All 11 ANM/GNM schools have been completed and handed over to the Health Department. Moreover, 03 ANM schools viz Bandipore, Kishtwar, Reasi and 03 GNM schools viz Pulwama, Kulgam, and Akhnoor are functioning from 2017-18, on internal arrangement basis.
With the establishment of these 11 Nursing Schools in the state, the nursing services will be strengthened once these start functioning.
These institutions shall produce 40 ANM students and 60 GNM students per school every year, which means that these 11 ANM/GNM Schools shall annually produce 540 skilled nursing staff. Further, the number of available nursing students will go up when the additional 10 ANM/GNM Schools, which are also coming up under centrally assistance under Phase-II, will be completed and made functional.
SAC approves holding of elections for constitution of Block Development Councils
The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here today under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik approved holding of elections for constitution of Block Development Council in the State (2nd Tier), after issuance of necessary notification in this behalf in consultation with Chief Electoral Officer, J&K and as per dates to be announced by him.
Pertinent to mention that Section 27 of the J&K Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 1989, provides for constitution of a Block Development Council for every block. Every Block Development Council shall be a body headed by a Chairperson and other Members. Chairperson of the Block Development Council shall be elected by the Electoral College comprising Panchs and Sarpanchs of Halqa Panchayat falling within the Block.
The object of constituting Block Development Council is to establish second tier of PRI institutions for (i) implementation/monitoring of several Centrally Sponsored Schemes like RGSA, MGNREGA, 14th Finance Commission and other schemes transferred to Halqa Panchayats; (ii) preparation and implementation of schemes of inter-Halqa Panchayats; (iii) consolidation of Action Plans of Halqa Panchayats and their submission to the District Planning and Development Board; (iv) ensuring the inter-departmental coordination at the Block level for the implementation of various schemes. (KNS)