Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Oct 27: To upgrade the health services and infrastructure in border District Rajouri, the construction work on 59 hospital complexes are apace at a total estimated cost of Rs 84.82 crore in Rajouri district, said Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan here today.
“Against the total cost, Rs 66.41 crore have been incurred on these projects till last financial year, while as Rs 6.81 crore being spent to complete maximum ongoing health projects during current fiscal”, he said while chairing a high level meeting of the officers of Health Services here today.
The meeting was convened to review physical and financial achievements registered under health sector in the border district.
District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Faqir Chand Bhagat, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr Yash Pal Sharma, Director Health Services, Jammu, Director Family Welfare, Superintendent Police, Rajouri, Additional District Development Commissioner, Rajouri, Chief Medical Officer, and Rajouri besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed that work on Rs 46.60 crore new District Hospital complex, Rajouri is apace against which Rs 32.63 crore have been expended on its execution till last fiscal, while as Rs 1 crore in being spent this fiscal on the project.
It was further informed that the construction work on the Sid Hospital taken up at a cost of Rs 2.37 crore is apace and an amount Rs 50 lakh is being expended on the project this year.
The Health Minister underscored the need for time bound completion of all ongoing hospital projects in the area. He stressed upon the concerned to redouble the efforts of field functionaries in this regard and ensure quality works with judicious use of Government exchequer.
Reviewing different targets fixed for improvement of health care facilities in the district under State Plan and NRHM, the Health Minister emphasized the need for effective implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) flagship programme to ensure universalization of health services in rural areas of the State.
The Minister asked health officials to focus on a mission to save girl child and initiate steps to improve the gender ratio in the state. He laid emphasis on drawing a strategy for improving the gender ratio and directed officials to proactively check the illegal practice of sex determination. He asked the officials to conduct regular inspections at Ultra-Sonography centers to keep a check on illegal practices of sex determination.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister addressed a public meeting at Chowdhary Nar and said that the present Coalition Government has set into motion a golden era of development, adding that an unprecedented era of development and peace has dawned in the State during the current dispensation. He said that every possible resource is being mobilized and pooled to provide basic facilities to the people with focus on equitable opportunities of development and uniform justice to poor and backward and hilly areas. He said Government was abreast with the problems of the people and no stone will be left unturned to redress their grievances.
The Minister said that all-round development of hilly and border areas have received focused attention of the Government during last over 4 years. He said at present almost all the remote and hilly areas have basic facilities of education, health care, drinking water, road connectivity and power supply at their door steps.