STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: Pawan Gupta MLA Udhampur strongly criticised BJP-PDP Government in matter of enhancement of seats for post-graduate courses in various disciplines of MD and MS pertaining to medical education wherein Kashmir valley once again stands hugely benefitted by getting a lion-share of 57 seats as against 13 to Jammu region.
He pointed out that it is a matter of great concern that Jammu province which is having more than 60 per cent area in comparison to Kashmir valley and is providing 70 per cent of revenue resources to the State budget is getting raw deal in every government department and is lagging in development and other infrastructural needs. He pointed out that the health and medical education budget for Kashmir valley is almost double than Jammu region i.e. Rs 1627 crore is budgeted for Kashmir valley as against Rs 924 crore for Jammu region.
He pointed out that 3 government/medical colleges have been established in Kashmir valley whereas for the same number of population, Jammu has meagerly been provided with one medical college and that too sans facilities. It is a matter of great concern that poor public of Jammu is persistently suffering at the hands of various political dispensations including Government partnered by the State BJP upon which people had pinned great hope.
He further pointed out that it is a matter of great disappointment that Jammu medical college lacks the basic medical facility of modular operation theatres which are prerequisite for a medical institute and even lacks C-Arm X-ray machine in emergency ward thus rendering patients at great risk. “There is strong deficiency of ventilator machines forcing the emergent patients either losing their life for want of ventilators (life giving support) or forcing them to move to private institutes causing to them to bear huge financial burden”, he added.
“Despite Health Ministry being held by ministers from Jammu region namely Sham Lal Sharma, Ch. Lal Singh and incumbent Bali Bhagat the scenario here is dismal,” Pawan said adding that it is a matter of great concern that the present Health Minister was posing and releasing a photo with the Union Health Minister as if he has achieved a great distinction in inflicting huge discrimination to Jammu region in matter of enhancement of seats for post graduates and adding insults to injury of Jammu region.
He said under present dispensation the State Public Service Commission is acting in a blatantly biased manner and only 20 per cent of the selections made in various gazetted cadre posts are from Jammu region. “J&K Bank has been the biggest culprit in discriminating and selecting only 20 per cent candidates from Jammu region”, he maintained.
He further said that the people have paid very heavy price by voting BJP to power which has bartered away the interests of the young and deserving people of Jammu region and indulged in Kashmir centric politics and politics of appeasement to enjoy the pelf and power.
He stressed that at it is high time that people of Jammu region should stand up to seek their rights and justice and organise themselves to force these ministers inflicting huge discrimination accountable and seek answers for betrayal of huge mandate given to State BJP.
