JAMMU, Mar 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday passed grants for four departments of school education, health and medical education, social welfare, and higher education, totalling over Rs 27,526 crore.
Introduced by Minister Sakina Itoo in the House on Wednesday, the grants amount to Rs 12,014.89 crore for the School Education Department, Rs 8,813.70 crore for the Health and Medical Education Department, Rs 4,504.28 crore for the Social Welfare Department, and Rs 2,193.40 crore for the Higher Education Department, passed through a voice vote on Thursday.
The grants totalling an amount of Rs 27,526.28 crore were approved following a two-day detailed discussion in the House. Summing up the discussion on demands for grants, Itoo, who holds charge of Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, welcomed the suggestions from legislators regarding the departments under her charge.
Itoo assured legislators that her team would carefully examine the suggestions for implementation, emphasizing efforts to resolve the issues raised during the discussion on demands for grants.
She laid thrust on infrastructure development under Capex Samagra, including new school buildings and additional classrooms amounting to Rs 739 crore. She also highlighted recent initiatives such as the restoration of the November session and provisions for 600 ICT labs, 2000 smart classrooms, and 500 ATLs to promote innovation and scientific temper among students.
Discussing the social welfare department, Itoo mentioned the revision in pension amounts announced by Chief Minister for all beneficiary categories during the Budget speech 2025-26. She detailed a graded pension structure aligned with beneficiaries’ age groups, ensuring equity and sustainability.
|