Govt committed to restore autonomous status, pristine glory of SKIMS: Sakeena Itoo
10/02/2026
Jammu, February 10 (KIP)-Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today said that SKIMS Soura is an important health institution established under the visionary leadership of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah to provide advanced medical care facilities to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister stated this while replying to a question raised by Legislator Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah in Legislative Assembly today.
The Health Minister highlighted that the government is committed to restore the autonomous status of SKIMS while reviving its pristine glory.
She added that after the present government took over in October 2024, high end medical equipments like LINAC, Cath Labs and other facilities have been installed in various health facilities across J&K for better treatment of patients. “There is no compromise on patient care”, she maintained.
The Health Minister highlighted that SKIMS Soura was established in the year 1976 and post re-organization of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir, certain administrative arrangements relating to composition of the Governing Body have undergone change. She added that SKIMS continues to award degrees in accordance with the provisions of the SKIMS (Grant of Degrees) Act, 1983.
The Minister further said that as per the applicable Transaction of Business Rules, the subject of SKIMS continues to be assigned to the Health & Medical Education Department. The funding structure of SKIMS remains unchanged and the budgetary allocations continue to be made under the Health Budget as was the position earlier, she added.
Health Minister elaborated that SKIMS Soura had an independent Engineering Wing before re-organization. Post-reorganization, these wings were merged as part of a broader administrative restructuring.
She added that the Engineering Wing of SKIMS now stands subsumed with the Public Works (R&B) Division Soura, located within the SKIMS premises. She said that the developmental and maintenance works of SKIMS are presently being executed through this Division.
The Minister also said that all ongoing and pending works of SKIMS were duly taken over by the executing agency and have been carried forward in a time-bound manner. She added that most of the works have been completed both physically and financially and the remaining are at an advanced stage of completion.
Legislators Tanvir Sadiq, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Mir Saifullah, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani and Saif-u-din Bhat raised supplementary questions.
Comprehensive SWM Plan rolled out across Anantnag district: Javid Ahmad Dar
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar informed the House that a systematic and comprehensive Solid Waste Management (SWM) plan has been formulated and is being implemented across all blocks of district Anantnag, including Shangus, Khoveripora, Achabal and Chittergul.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Rayez Ahmad Khan regarding waste management, the Minister stated that substantial infrastructure has already been created under SBM-G. He added that one segregation shed per panchayat, community compost pits, individual household compost pits and centralised Plastic Waste Management Units across all 16 blocks of the district have been created.
The Minister also said that panchayat-wise segregation at source has been strengthened through household and community compost pits for biodegradable waste and dustbins for non-biodegradable waste. He added that the department is actively conducting IEC awareness campaigns and capacity-building programmes to bring about behavioural change among the rural households.
He also informed that in Shangus-Anantnag East Constituency, four Plastic Waste Management Units are functional with waste segregation being carried out fortnightly.
The Minister also informed that the infrastructure already created included 84 segregation sheds,117 community compost pits, 291 community soak pits,101 community sanitary complexes, 04 plastic waste management units and 09 waste collection vehicles. He added that during the current financial year, 05 segregation sheds, 68 community compost pits, 83 community soak pits and 84 community sanitary complexes are under execution.
The Minister further informed that in Annual Action Plan 2026–27 under SBM-G and in convergence with VB-GRAMG (MGNREGA), proposals have been made for 10 community compost pits, 1998 individual compost pits, 25 community soak pits, 10,456 individual soak pits and 08 motorized vehicles to further strengthen Solid and Liquid Waste Management infrastructure.
Responding to a supplementary question on monitoring and operational efficiency, the Minister said that no vulnerable waste dumping spot has been identified in the area. He added that any reports of open dumping are addressed immediately and identification and allotment of suitable dumping sites is being strictly followed.
The Minister said that door-to-door waste collection, segregation at source, composting of biodegradable waste and scientific disposal of residual waste are being ensured. Besides, regular awareness drives are being conducted to educate the rural households on cleanliness and safe waste disposal practices.
For further strengthening the system, the Minister said that 31 additional vehicles, 670 community dustbins and 3 lakh individual dustbins have been proposed for Anantnag district under the Annual Action Plan 2026–27.
He also highlighted that effective Operation & Maintenance (O&M) arrangements are being strengthened across all SBM-G/SLWM assets. A dedicated policy is under finalization and the Finance Department has already earmarked 10 percent of annual PRI Capex allocation exclusively for O&M of SBM-G/SLWM assets to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Minister stated that a robust monitoring and accountability framework is in place at the block and panchayat level. He added that By-laws have been framed and notified for every panchayat and regular monitoring is being conducted by the field functionaries.