Jammu: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, while terming drug abuse as an issue of grave concern, said there is dire need to work collectively for eradication of this societal menace plaguing Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister said this while replying to a starred question raised by MLA, Mubarak Gul, in the Legislative Assembly here today.
While giving details regarding the treatment and rehabilitation facilities, the Minister said that 11 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) are functional in Kashmir division and 9 ATFs in Jammu division. She further informed that OPD services are functional in all 20 districts while IPD services are available in all 9 GMCs, catering to the healthcare needs of both male and female patients. She also informed that Psychiatrists are available in all the GMC’s of J&K.
Reflecting on the Training and Monitoring efforts of the government, the Minister said that 25 Medical Officers (12 from Jammu and 13 from Kashmir) have been trained by NIMHANS, Bengaluru and deputed to their respective districts to strengthen treatment facilities at de-addiction centres. She also informed that surveillance has been strengthened by data collection on a daily basis using google sheets for real time reporting to monitor trends and measure the impact of interventions.
The Minister informed the house that after the initiation of Nasha Mukht Abhiyan since September 2022, the registration of new cases has shown decreasing trend which indicates some level of control or improvement in detecting and managing the affected victims. She also informed the house that several policy level measures have been initiated like Adoption of Drug De-Addiction Policy, Constitution of State Level Policy Implementation Monitoring, Divisional Level Drug De-addiction and Monitoring besides constitution of District Level Drug De-addiction and Monitoring Committees to tackle drug addiction as well as drug trafficking in J&K.
The Minister further informed that the government has established a dedicated call centre Tele MANAS to facilitate the drug victims seeking treatment.
Giving details on awareness activities, the Minister informed that IEC activities, seminars, workshops and programmes are being conducted regularly in schools, colleges and universities in coordination with the district administrations, NGOs, volunteers and other allied agencies regarding ill effects of drug and substance abuse.
The Minister also informed that the health department, in collaboration with J&K bank, has successfully launched the project “Najaath” on drug abuse dedicated to Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco and Drug Addiction, in Jammu and Pulwama districts in November 2023. She added that the Najaath aims to raise awareness among individuals, families and communities about the harmful effects of tobacco and drug addiction besides the available resources for prevention, treatment and support.
Legislators, Mubarak Gul, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi raised supplementary questions on the matter.
Several WSSs completed, others under progress in SMVD constituency
Concerted efforts underway to address water scarcity caused by rainfall deficiency: Javed Rana
Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmad Rana, today said that 35 WSSs have been either completed or under progress in different areas of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) constituency to facilitate portable water facility to the people.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, Baldev Raj Sharma, in the Legislative Assembly.
He added that 91 PANI SAMITI Committees have been constituted in SMVD Constituency under JJM, comprising elected members of the Panchayat Raj Institutions, community leaders, school teachers, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and others and it has to have at least 50 percent representation of women. He said that there is no slackening in monitoring by the Pani Samitis and there are regular reviews being held by District Jal Jeevan Missions (DJJMs) headed by the respective District Development Commissioners.
The Minister said that the rainfall recorded about 79% deficiency, as per data by the ending February this year, resulting in depletion of most of the Spring sources. He said that some important measures being taken up to tackle scarcity of water in SMVD constituency included awareness among the general public about judicious use of water and avoiding wastages. Besides, channelization of local nallahs has also been proposed at some sources by diverting the flow to recharge the springs.
He said that several measures like protection and development of the sources, deployment of additional water and focus on water conservation, rain water harvesting, ground water recharge, rejuvenation of traditional bodies and afforestation are being taken up to address the issue. He also informed that the present status of drinking water demand and supply in the SMVD Constituency (rural areas) is 11.85 lakh gallons per day against the water availability of 10.49 lakh gallons per day.
The Minister stated that all the pipes including GI, DI and HDPE are being used as per the site requirement and their suitability. He said that the HDPE pipes are one among the non-metallic pipes recommended by the CPHEEO manual and advised by NJJM, for use in transmission of water under various WSSs. He said that the concerned technical field staff monitors the work on a regular basis at the site. Apart from the District Project Management Units (DPMUs), there is a Third Party Inspection Agency for monitoring the quality of works, he added.
Replying to a supplementary, the Minister said that a strict inquiry would be conducted in case of failure of Pani Samitis, fixing the responsibilities accordingly. Besides, focus shall be given on fixing loopholes, if any, in execution of JJM works.
Existing healthcare facilities being upgraded expeditiously: Sakeena Itoo
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that the existing healthcare facilities are being upgraded expeditiously to cater to the needs of people of the Union Territory.
The Minister made these remarks while replying to a starred question of MLA, Dr. Narinder Singh, on healthcare facilities in Greater Kailash and Sainik Colony.
The Minister said that an Urban Public Health Centre (UPHC) is providing a range of healthcare services to the people at Sainik Colony. She informed that 5 regular healthcare professionals (Doctors and Paramedics) and additional 8 doctors and paramedics, engaged under NHM, have been deployed at the facility to supplement existing staff strength. She further informed that there are also several other healthcare facilities in the close proximity of 1-3 km like NTPHC Channi Himmat, Sub-Centre Sainik Colony and Sub-Center Lower Chowadhi.
Regarding the secondary and tertiary level healthcare services, the Minister said that the Government Hospital Gandhinagar, Rajeev Gandhi Hospital Gangyal, GMC Jammu and its Associated Hospitals are also available within 3-6 km of distance.
The Minister also informed that under universal health insurance initiative of J&K, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)- SEHAT scheme, several private empanelled hospitals are also providing treatments to the eligible beneficiaries in close proximity of Sainik Colony and Greater Kailash areas of Jammu.
