‘Instructions issued for earlier completion of work’
Avtar Bhat
SAMBA, Jan 1: Union Minister of State with Independent Charge of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, today said that AIIMS and other new institutions will provide upgraded cost effective health care facilities to the people of the region.
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Talking to reporters during an on the spot visit of prestigious AIIMS complex at Vijaypur near here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said soon after coming to power in 2014, Narendra Modi Government took keen interest in development of erstwhile J&K State by sanctioning many mega projects in health, education, roads, Jal Shakti and power sectors to bring it at par with other developed States of the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh said J&K was the only State in the country which got instead of one two AIIMS including one at Jammu and another in Kashmir valley with personal intervention of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
He said AIIMS and other new institutions like Apollo and other hospitals being opened by private players will certainly upgrade the region’s health care facility at cost effective rates.
Dr Jitendra Singh took a dig at previous Governments who in last 70 years subjected the Jammu region to total discrimination. This discrimination does not prevailed in health sector, but education and other sectors as well, he added.
“Previous Governments failed to do anything for this region as they constantly pursued the policy of regional discrimination”, he said, adding, “The Medical College in Srinagar was established in late sixties while Jammu got it in 1973 that too after a great struggle”.
The Minister said “Likewise the Regional Engineering College in Srinagar was established in 1955 while Jammu got it in nineties. Same was the case with establishment of university while Kashmir University was established much earlier, Jammu got the varsity in sixties,” he added.
He said in eighties the SKIMS was established in Srinagar while Jammu was ignored. In addition the SKUAST was also established in Kashmir in eighties while Jammu got it after a protracted struggle in late nineties, Dr Jitendra Singh added.
There was no Super Specialty Institute in Jammu and it was earlier during Vajpayee Government that a decision was taken to convert Jammu Medical College on the pattern of AIIMS, Delhi. But after his Government the project was shelved only for the reason that the politicians with perverted mindset were not interested in the development of this region, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh during an on- the- spot visit to the prestigious AIIMS complex at Vijaypur, later issued instructions to administration of the Institute and the CPWD to complete the project as early as possible, so that the formal inauguration could be carried out at the earliest.
The Minister was accompanied by Director AIIMS, Dr Shakti Gupta, Chief Engineer CPWD, Mukesh Meena and other senior officers. He asked them to double their efforts and carry out the work round the clock in double shifts.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had sanctioned two AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir with the hope to provide better health facilities to the people of the Union Territory. The Minister emphasised that with the early completion of the medical institute the Government will be able to dedicate the premium health facility to the people of Jammu division particularly and the adjoining areas in general.
He mentioned completion of various projects like rail line between Kashmir and rest of the country, AIIMS, Purple revolution, visit of a record number of tourists to J&K and the pilgrims at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine as an outcome of the path breaking initiatives by the Government to transform J&K.
Earlier, Dr. Jitendra Singh visited AYUSH Block Convention Centre, OPD block, Hospital Block and Emergency Block for on spot inspection of the construction and other works. He showed keen interest and guided the concerned to make the necessary changes so that the institute could benefit the large population for providing the best health facilities.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that AIIMS Jammu is a state of art project which makes it a special one as compared to the similar projects in rest of the country. He expressed satisfaction over the residential accommodation for the faculty, students and other residential projects being completed with all modern facilities and gadgets.
In the presentation, Chief Engineer, CPWD, Mukesh Meena for the project informed that the total area for the AIIMS Jammu Hospital complex is 226.84 acres out of which 96 acres accommodate the north parcel comprising Hospital, Medical College, Convention Centre, AYUSH block and night shelter. The South parcel spread over an area of 130.84 acres has complexes like student activity centre, sports centre, residential hostels and guest house.
The Minister was informed that the project was of 1661 crore rupees from which 1404 crore was to be spent on building infra-structure, 48.72 crore on pre-construction activities, 22 crore for non-medical furniture and 185.32 crore on medical equipment and furniture. The Chief Engineer informed that the target date of completion is January 2024. He also briefed about the assistance required from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for completion of the project for the additional estimated funds of Rs.203 crores.
Under the civil works, the CPWD has constructed a Police Station and Fire Station inside the campus and has also a facility of helipad for emergency and other purposes. The meeting was informed that the AYUSH building, animal facilities, solid waste management building, electrical substation, night shelter, fire station, auditorium and academic building have already been completed while the hospital tower, diagnostic block and a few other towers will be completed by the end of this month.
During his presentation, Director AIIMS Jammu Prof. Dr. Shakti Gupta informed that as far as the manpower for the AIIMS Jammu is concerned, the Institute has already started working on it and most of the faculties and administrative staff has already been recruited. He said that an additional proposal for the creation of 449 posts for AIIMS Jammu has already been forwarded to MoH&FW. He informed that the institute is working on the proposal for creation of non-faculty post on contractual basis and the AIIMS Jammu has 231 sanctioned post of Senior Nursing Officer out of which 25% are to be filled through direct recruitment while as 75% on promotion and for direct recruitment 57 posts have already been filled.
Dr. Shakti Gupta informed that review meeting that the project for installing equipment and other medical technical requirements are also at the final stage of completion. He expressed hope that AIIMS Jammu will soon be ready for its dedication to the nation.
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