Anantnag: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education Sakeena Itoo on Wednesday met several public delegations from Anantnag and Kulgam districts during a Public Darbar held at Dak Bungalow Khanabal and listened to various public grievances and developmental demands.
MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Wani, MLA Anantnag West Abdul Majeed Bhat and MLA Shangus-Anantnag East Reyaz Ahmad Khan, along with senior officers from different departments, were present during the public outreach programme.
During the interaction, delegations comprising local residents, social activists and community representatives highlighted issues related to healthcare, education and public welfare in their respective areas.
The delegations sought strengthening of healthcare facilities in hospitals and primary health institutions and demanded deployment of additional medical and paramedical staff to address shortages in peripheral areas.
They also projected demands for installation of modern medical equipment including X-ray units, ECG machines and ultrasound facilities besides availability of specialist doctors such as ENT experts and paediatricians in hospitals.
Several delegations raised concerns regarding inadequate infrastructure in schools and hospitals and demanded construction of new buildings and improvement of basic facilities in educational and healthcare institutions.
While interacting with the delegations, Sakeena Itoo assured the public that the government remains committed to equitable development and strengthening of healthcare and education sectors across Jammu and Kashmir.
She said genuine public demands and developmental concerns would be examined on priority for appropriate redressal.
The minister said the government is making sustained efforts to improve healthcare delivery and educational infrastructure, particularly in underserved and far-flung areas.
She also emphasised the importance of public outreach programmes in enabling direct interaction between the government and citizens.
Later, the minister chaired a review meeting with officers of various departments, including health, education and social welfare, and directed them to take immediate cognisance of issues raised during the Public Darbar.
She instructed officials to organise monthly Public Darbars in the districts to review progress on grievances and developmental demands raised during previous interactions.
Sakeena Itoo also directed officers to consult local MLAs before initiating developmental projects in their respective areas and stressed the need for proper coordination with elected representatives for effective grassroots development.
While reviewing the healthcare and education scenario, she instructed concerned Chief Medical Officers and Chief Education Officers to rationalise staff deployment to ensure adequate staffing in public institutions for better public facilitation.