SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakina Itoo, on Saturday reiterated her party’s long-standing demand for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, terming its revocation as “illegal” and asserting that it must be returned to the people at the earliest.
After inaugurating a Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Khull Noorabad and a Sheep Husbandry Centre, Itoo said, “Statehood is our constitutional and democratic right, which has been taken away illegally. It must be restored without delay.”
She said that it has been promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of the Parliament and it must be restored at the earliest.
On the upcoming Urban Local Body (ULB) and Panchayat elections, she said these polls are not new to the people of J&K, especially the NC, as her party has always been ready for them. “It was the Omar Abdullah-led government in 2008 that initiated the Panchayat and ULB elections in Jammu and Kashmir. We were also the first to provide 33 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats to ensure grassroots empowerment,” she said.
Highlighting the ongoing recruitment efforts in the vital sectors of health and education, Itoo said hundreds of long-pending vacancies have already been filled. “As many as 509 doctors have been recruited recently, along with several consultant-level posts. The government is making concerted efforts to fill the remaining positions at the earliest in all departments, as there is a shortage of staff,” she said.
“Staff shortage is something we have unfortunately inherited. No significant work was done in the past 10 years. However, in just the last nine months under Omar Abdullah’s leadership, meaningful progress has been made. We are committed to continuing on this path of public welfare,” she added.
Itoo also spoke about institutional reforms, stating that the Cabinet Sub-Committee has already submitted its report on reservation within the stipulated six-month timeframe. “The report is now with the Law Department and after clearance, steps will be taken for its implementation,” she said.
She said that the Omar Abdullah-led government has already taken many major steps for the welfare of the public and much more is in the pipeline. (KNO)
