Legislative Assembly passes grants of School Education, Social Welfare, Health, Higher Education Deptts

Minister appreciates CM Omar Abdullah for extraordinary Budget 2026-27, calls it historical one
Budget reflects strong commitment towards human development, improved service delivery, inclusive growth: Sakeena Itoo
JAMMU, FEBRUARY 11: The Legislative Assembly today passed the grants amounting to Rs. 12,98,872.13 Lakh for School Education department, Rs. 8,65,476.57 Lakh for Health and Medical Education department, Rs. 4,45,671.59 Lakh for Social Welfare department and Rs. 2,15,016.37 Lakh for Higher Education department through voice vote.
The grants were passed after day long discussion by Members in the house.
Winding up the discussion on the Demands for Grants, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo expressed gratitude to Legislators for their valuable suggestions and ideas regarding functioning of Departments under her charge.
She added that the way MLAs highlighted the overall challenges in these sectors and their Constituency wise issues related to these sectors, will definitely guide Government in addressing any future challenges.
Minister Sakeena assured the Legislators that the departments will examine the valuable suggestions put forth by Legislators and maximize their efforts to address their genuine issues raised during the discussion on demand for grants.
“Education, Health and Social Welfare are the most important sectors upon which the foundation of a nation depends. Under the visionary leadership of late Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, these sectors were given prime importance.”
The Minister expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that despite all financial limitations as Finance Minister, he has kept extraordinary budget provisions for Education, Health and Social Welfare sectors. “This budgetary support will help in improving the quality of Education as well as Health services and welfare of deserving persons. No Budget is perfect ever, but it is Honest in intent, grounded in reality and guided by compassion”, she said.
She remarked that the budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on 6th February is a historical one as it includes various initiatives which shows inclusive growth of all sectors, particularly education, health and social welfare.
“The budget reflects a strong commitment towards human development, improved service delivery and inclusive growth”, she said.
Speaking on School Education sector, the Minister said that before this government took over, Education Policy in J&K suffered from frequent experimentation without consultation, teachers were overburdened and students paid the price.
The Minister also said that the Council of Ministers in its maiden meeting took a significant decision of restoring the Academic Session from March to November, which was a genuine and constant demand of parents as well as students. “The outcome of these reforms reflected in the recent results of 10th, 11th and 12th classes of winter zones, particularly in Government schools, which stands at all time high (85% in 10th Class, 84% 12th Class and 83% in 11th Class). I hope the results of summer zone in all these three classes will be far better”, she said.
She added that our Government remains committed to Teacher Empowerment and Training, restoring respect to the profession and upgrading government schools, so that poverty does not determine quality.
Reflecting on achievements of School Education sector, Minister Sakeena said that as many as 2894 CPWs (1050 in Jammu and1844 in Kashmir) have been regularised in a landmark decision, adding that remaining eligible CPWs shall also be regularised as per rules/eligibility and vacancy of posts under promotion quota. She added that to cope up the shortage of subject oriented staff, the department hired Cluster Resource Coordinators (CRC’s) under Samagra Shiksha on a monthly remuneration of Rs. 25,000.
Regarding Human Resource Management in schools, high schools and higher secondary schools, the Minister said that 594 vacancies of Lecturers of different subjects have been referred to JKPSC and their selection lists are in final stage.
She also said that 770 posts of Non-Teaching staff of different categories lying vacant under direct recruitment quota are being referred to JKSSB.
The Minister also said that promotions and placements have been held in the department under both gazetted and non-gazetted categories to improve academic activities in educational institutions. She added that other proposals of granting promotions of different levels are in progress in the department which will be cleared in due course of time and significantly improve learning outcomes in educational institutions.
She also said that for inclusive education 53 Girls Hostels and 28 KGBVs are being completed and upgraded.
Regarding infrastructure development, the Minister said that during current financial year, 2356 projects of various nature have been approved under Capex, including 288 Additional Classrooms. She added that under Samagra Shiksha 762 Additional Classrooms, 619 Boys Toilets, 710 Girls Toilets, and 604 Boundary Walls will be constructed.
For next fiscal year, the Minister said that we have proposed to add 329 Additional Classrooms under Capex in High Schools/Higher Secondary Schools and 400 Additional Classrooms under Samagra Shiksha.
The Minister also said that 172 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) have been established in Schools till date and proposal for establishment of 500 more ATLs has been approved under Atal Innovation Mission. She added that 2733 Smart Classrooms in the first phase are proposed for the Financial Year 2026-27 to cover Middle, High and Higher Secondary schools, besides 289 Virtual Reality Labs are to be established during 2026-27, with phased coverage of all 2530 High Schools and Higher Secondary schools to promote scientific temper among students.
The Minister also said that 188 Astro-Physics Labs (01 each in Education Zone) are being set up during 2026-27 to encourage hands-on learning in space science among students and 100 Additional Science Centres will be established in 2026-27 to encourage creativity among students.
She also highlighted that to conserve local culture of different communities and popularise mother tongue, text books have been printed in regional languages like Dogri, Kashmiri, Pahari, Gojri and Sheena etc, adding that Free Text Books are being provided to students from Class 1st to 8th under Samagra Shiksha.
“The Government has recently launched a dedicated educational DTH Channel ‘JK e-Patshala’ available free of cost to all students from class 1st to 12th and the department is going to increase DTH channel from 1 to 12 channels (one for each class) with a concept of ‘One Class-One Channel”, she said.
The Minister also said that under Beti Anmol scheme , 19870 girls have been covered wherein an amount Rs. 3.68 Cr. has been utilised during 2025-26 and an amount of Rs. 8.69 Cr. is being proposed during next fiscal year (2026-27).
Speaking regarding Health Sector, the Minister said that before our Government took over in October 2024, hospitals had become symbols of neglect rather than healing. “Healthcare will no longer be a privilege of geography or income it will be a right delivered at the doorstep”, she said.
The Minister further said that this Budget reflects our belief that healthcare is not an expense, but an investment, an investment in human capital, social harmony and inclusive growth.
Reflecting on various achievements, the Minister said, “160 bedded State-of-the-Art additional Block at Bone & Joint Hospital, Srinagar, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.140 crores has been made functional from July, 2025. This facility has substantially enhanced the ortho and trauma care services in the entire region”.
“243 bedded extensions of Labour Block at SMGS hospital Jammu has been dedicated to the people by Hon’ble Chief Minister of J&K Jenab Omar Abdullah last week”.
The Minister also said that around 3200 Bed capacity will be added in next two years at various hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir. She added that State of Art surgical theatre block at SMHS Hospital Srinagar at a cost of Rs. 50.24 Cr and establishment of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facility and Bio-Safety Level-III (BSL-III) Laboratory at GMC Jammu has been approved.
She also said that Emergency Medicine Departments will be established in all Government Medical Colleges in coming years.
“02 new Cath Labs, one each at GMC Anantnag and GMC Jammu have been dedicated for public. 02 more Cath labs at GMCs of Rajouri and Baramulla will be established during 2026-2027, 01 more Cath Lab at GMC Doda is in pipeline”, she said.
To improve diagnostic services, the Minister said that CT Scan Machine 128 slice has been installed at District Hospital Ganderbal besides installation of CT Scan Machines in other major hospitals like SMGS Jammu, CD Hospital Jammu, DH Poonch, DH Budgam, Super Speciality Hospital Srinagar (SSH) and SMHS Srinagar are in progress. She added that CT SCAN for Super Speciality Hospital (SSH) Jammu has also been proposed.
“The process for strengthening the Diagnostics with 1.5 Tesla MRIs for new GMCs of J&K and 3 Tesla MRIs for GMC Jammu, GMC Srinagar and SKIMS to reduce waiting time of patients has been initiated”, she said.
“The process of establishing PET-Scan facilities in GMC Srinagar has already been started and initiative will be extended to two more GMCs in the coming years (01 in GMC Anantnag and 01 in GMC Kathua)”.
The Minister also said that Dialysis Services are being extended to 80 SDH/CHCs in next 15 months, besides 50 AI enabled X-Ray Machines will be deployed in District and Sub-District Hospitals in J&K.
She also said that 44 Advance Life Support Ambulances (22 each for Jammu & Kashmir division) have been added to existing fleet 102-108 Ambulance Services, taking tally to 533 ambulances. She added that Bullet Proof Ambulances for Border areas will also be procured.
Regarding Cancer Management, the Minister said that the government will roll out a Cancer Control Strategy for J&K in collaboration with NITI Ayog and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). She added that the focus will be on implementing various interventions and strategies for management of cancer in J&K and will include collaborations for infrastructure development, training and capacity building with reputed National Level Organizations like Tata Memorial Centre.
The Minister also said that Jammu and Kashmir has received the Award for exemplary performance in ‘TB Mukt Panchayat category’ in recognition of its efforts under the National TB Elimination Programme, celebrating World TB Day and 2060 Panchayats have been declared TB free.
She also said that for Human Resource enhancement, 480 posts of Medical Officers have been referred to JKPSC, 582 posts of Para Medical staff have been referred to JKSSB, besides 468 appointments as Medical Officers have been made through JKPSC during last 1.5 years.
She further added that 268 Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors and others have been engaged on Academic Arrangement basis in all GMCs of J&K.
The Health Minister said that 340 MBBS seats have been added in all GMCs, including ASCOMS Jammu, 128 PG seats have also been added in all GMC’s including SKIMS and 34 PG Ayurveda Seats have also been sanctioned. She added that Government Homoeopathic Medical College at Kathua started 2nd batch of Bachelor of Homeopathic Medical Science classes.
The Minister also said that various initiatives have been launched for improving healthcare facilities in SKIMS. She added that SKIMS has installed the LINAC system recently which is fully functional and is providing radiotherapy services to Cancer patients.
She also said that major equipments like Ventilators ( High End, Mid End , Low End), Nero Navigation Suite, Modular Operation Theatre, Neuro Endroscope, Radiology Information System, Digital Angiography System, Eco-Cardiography System, 32/64 CT-Scan, Cobolt 60 Plant, and others will be procured for SKIMS during next financial year:
The Minister further highlighted that the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) declined to 9.8 and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to 14.0, achieving SDG global targets well ahead of timelines. She added that Institutional deliveries increased to 98.9–99.7%, while home deliveries declined sharply from 2118 (2024–25) to 351 (2025–26) indicating signification improvement.
Regarding Drug De-addiction, the Health Minister said, “J&K has highest number of functional Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in country in public health sector (21) and every district is covered”. She added that these ATFs across J&K have provided around 1.5 lac patient consultations.
“Community Rehabilitation Program called Circle of Care launched to have a de-addiction counsellor in every village of J&K. So far 600 such counsellors trained from Health, Education and NRLM departments”, she said.
She added that a survey in 10 districts of J&K will be launched to look in-depth of problem and this survey will be part of national survey in substance use disorders.
While speaking about Social Welfare sector, the Minister said that 28186 Anganwadi Centres are functional in J&K and 8.41 Lakh beneficiaries are covered under Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
She added that 99 percent Anganwadi Centres are housed in functional buildings and 338 Anganwadi Centres housed in Government buildings have been upgraded as Saksham Anganwadi Centres in 2025-26 with facilities like LED Screens, water purifiers, learning walls, CCTVs, Bio metric Attendance system, POSHAN Vatikas and Rain water harvesting.
“Under UT Capex, 653 AWCs have been upgraded as Bal Vidyalas. J&K Government proposes to upgrade 1,000 AWCs, operating from rented buildings, into Bal Vidyalas to strengthen infrastructure and introduce technology-enabled facilities”, she said
“Capital allocation is proposed to be increased from Rs. 67 Cr. To Rs.170 Cr and 127 new AWCs will be constructed (1 each in CDPO block)”.
The Minister also said that the Government has enhanced the pension of 10.19 lakh pensioners across categories of old age, widow and disable persons to Rs. 1250, Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2000 respectively, adding that 100% pension to 8.83 lakh beneficiaries under ISSS is fully funded by the J&K Government.
“The Government has enhanced marriage assistance from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 for AAY families to ensure dignified wedding of their daughters,” she said.
She added that during the current year 27611 beneficiaries were registered and Rs. 234 Crs were disbursed up to December 2025.
The Minister further said that eligibility norms were eased by removing education bar.
Under Ladli Beti Scheme, the Minister said that 198324 beneficiaries have been covered till December 2025 and an amount of Rs. 500 Crs was earmarked for covering 22198 beneficiaries during 2025-26.
The Minister further said that through Women Development Corporation, 812 units were established by providing soft loan of Rs. 24.36 Crs, generating employment for 3257 persons.
For welfare of SC, ST and OBCs, she highlighted that an amount of Rs. 1938.76 Lakhs as loan was disbursed to cover 607 beneficiaries, generating employment for 1270 persons.
The Minister also said that for Scheduled Caste students, Government has established 13 Hostels and construction of SC/ST building at an estimated cost of Rs. 8.07 Crs will be completed during the current year.
While speaking on Higher Education sector, the Minister said that out of 50 new Degree Colleges sanctioned in 2019, buildings for eight colleges have been completed and construction work of 24 Degree Colleges is in process, out of which eight are at its finishing stage.
She added that building of Architect College Jammu is at advance stage of completion and building of Architecture College of GCET Safapora Ganderbal is also under construction.
The Minister also said that 35 Projects of strengthening infrastructure in Degree Colleges/Universities under RUSA I and II have been completed.
She also highlighted that 18 new projects under PM-USHA have been approved with an approved cost of Rs. 155 Cr to strengthen infrastructure in Universities and Degree Colleges, which include two Universities-SMVDU and BGSBU, nine Degree colleges and construction of 7 Girls Hostels in various colleges of J&K.
The Minister also said that 58 unique Major Under Graduate Programs are presently being offered in Government Degree Colleges and 65 colleges were authorised to offer 153 additional courses during 2025.
She added 2205 candidates were engaged on need based Academic Arrangement through Centralised Academic Arrangement Portal to ensure uninterrupted academic delivery in colleges, apart from other regular recruitments of Assistant Professors.
Earlier, Legislators Mubarik Gul, Mir Saifullah, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Choudhary Mohammed Akram, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Sunil Bharadwaj, Surinder Kumar, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Salman Sagar, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Shakti Raj Parihar, Iftkar Ahmed, Sheikh Khurshid, Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah, Mian Mehar Ali, Abdul Majid bhat(Larmi) Rajiv Kumar, Sajad Gani Lone, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Hasnain Masoodi, Waheed ur Rehman Parra, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri), Surjeet Singh Salathia, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, Rajiv Jasrotia and Qaysar Jamshaid Lone participated in the discussion on Demands for Grants and raised various constituency specific issues.
Later, the Legislators Balwant Singh Mankotia, Sajad Gani Lone, Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Devinder Kumar Manyal, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Shakti Raj Parihar, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Mohan Lal Bhagat, and Sheikh Khursheed withdrew their Cut Motions after assurances by the Minister.