KL Report
Srinagar
Union Minister for Health, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Wednesday inaugurated new IPD block in District Hospital Doda, constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 24.22 crore.
The Union Minister also laid foundation stone of Kissan Ghar-cum-Community Hall at Doda which is being constructed under MPLAD Fund.
Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the new IPD block, Azad said that liberal funding is being provided to Jammu and Kashmir State by the Union Government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi. He called for availing benefits of central support for equitable development of all regions of the state.
Azad reiterated that coalition government must work hard to extend better basic facilities to the people living in backward and far flung areas of the State. He said coalition government led by Omar Abdullah has taken up various projects for holistic development under core sectors in the state.
The Union Minister said that several schemes have been initiated by the Central government for strengthening the Health Care Delivery system in the state. He said that under JSSK, free delivery, free medicines, free transport, free tests and free food is being provided to the pregnant women in the state. He called for creating awareness among the people about these schemes initiated by the Health Department for the benefit and welfare of the poor people.
Azad also highlighted schemes under which free medical treatment will be provided to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients suffering from Heart, Lung, Kidney and other life threatening ailments. He said that medical expenditure will be borne by the Health Department, adding that for Above Poverty Line (APL) patients whose monthly income is below Rs. 5000, Health Department will provide treatment expenses up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs for Heart, Lungs and Kidney ailments.
Azad said that to provide food security to poor people living in rural and urban areas, Union Government has passed the Food Security Bill which provides ration at very nominal rates to the poor.
Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani while addressing the gathering reiterated the commitment of the coalition government to improve Urban- Rural road infrastructure in the state. He said, Doda being among the least connected districts, urgent need was felt to bring it at par with rest of the well-connected districts and as such special attention to improve its connectivity percentage along with other low percentage districts has been ordered.
Wani said that road connectivity to left out habitations is a priority and all such areas will be covered under PMGSY and other schemes. He said several significant road projects are also under execution across the entire state and their completion will have a huge impact on the socio- economic development profile.
Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan, highlighted the steps taken by the Government to improve health infrastructure in the state.
Minister of State for Power, Technical Education, Vikar Rasool Wani, announced that 400 candidates from each constituency of the erstwhile District Doda will be sent outside state for Skill Development in various trades for absorption in private sector. He said new trades are also being started in ITI’s of the district to provide better technical education to youth in the region.
