The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday lashed out at the regional parties who have opposed the recent decision of giving 'homes to homeless', stating that “gone are the days when some people were acting as the owners of government property and funds.”

Addressing the National Tribal Festival at SKICC here, the LG, as per the news agency KNO, said that the recent announcement of giving land to 2711 landless families and homes to those who are homeless has pinched some people who have started to oppose the move.

“I want to tell them that gone are the days when they were treating themselves as the owners of government property and funds. Gone are the days when they were taking decisions that suit their political interests. They grabbed state land, constructed huge houses for themselves and left the poor to suffer. The same people are now misleading the common people,” the LG said in an obvious reference to National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and other regional politicians who had opposed the administration’s decision.

While Omar had questioned who were the homeless in J&K, PDP chief Mehbooba had stated that the move was aimed to convert J&K into a slum by bringing outsiders to settle here.

The LG said that Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana was implemented across the country except for J&K. “Now that the scheme is being implemented in J&K too, some people feel the pain. This is PM (Narendra Modi’s) dream and will be fulfilled,” he said. “Each homeless family will get 5 malras of land, so that they can build their dream house.”

Praising the tribal community for their contribution to the 'peaceful and developed' J&K, the LG said that a series of steps have been made for the welfare of tribal people that include training tools and that there is a proposal to conduct buyer-seller meets for them as well.

“Efforts are on to train the tribal youth for prestigious exams and ensure free coaching for them,” the LG said. He said that the ancestors of the tribal community have paid huge sacrifices for J&K even after suffering a lot.

“August 5, 2019 was a historic day for the tribal community as the day ended disparity for them,” the LG said and added that not just the Tribal Affairs Department but other departments of the administration will work with close synergy for the welfare of tribals.

He said that a fresh web portal will have a database of all four lakh tribal people in J&K that will help track them anytime. “There will be free transport for the tribals during their migration period so that they can reach their destinations within two days instead of a month. Free ambulance services will also be provided to them. Primary health services will also be set up to cater to the health needs of tribals,” the LG said.

He also announced that Tribal Affairs Institute (TAI) will be further upgraded and youth will be trained to extract herbs in forests.

SRINAGAR — In a significant move to strengthen the grass root level health services in J&K, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has approved ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) for serving the Tribal or nomadic population of J&K.

J&K has a unique blend of diverse climate conditions, cultures, languages, economic practices and other identities. The tribal population in itself is a classic example of heterogeneity.

In June 2021, the Tribal Affairs Department, J&K initiated the first survey of the transhumant tribal population. It was aimed at welfare planning in the wake of the long-felt need for focused development. For catering for the healthcare needs of such a nomadic population, J&K has got the sanction of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs). The ASHAs for these areas will be chosen among the nomadic population which is surveyed by the Tribal department.

Yasin M. Choudhary, Mission Director, NHM J&K while giving details informed that as per the report received from the Tribal Affairs Department, more than 80 thousand transhuman populations undertake biannual migration between valleys or villages and highland pastures, along with livestock. To provide better healthcare services to these nomads, we have got the approval of about 334 ASHAs from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi.

ASHAs being engaged by NHM, J&K are working as a bridge between Health Department and the community. All the health schemes of NHM or J&K Government are being implemented by ASHAs at the grass root level. ASHA is a link through which the healthcare needs of the people are being catered.

At present, J&K has engaged about 13000 ASHAs who are serving the rural as well as the urban population of J&K. All the health schemes, whether Centrally-sponsored or State Government schemes are being implemented by ASHA at the grass root level. Tribal ASHA shall be a literate woman from within the tribal community who shall be trained for implementing all the health schemes of NHM or J&K Government among her Tribal community.

"By engaging the ASHAs for nomadic population, J&K Government shall provide access to healthcare services to this big transhuman tribal population, which they are lacking till now," Yasin added.

SRINAGAR — The Tribal Affairs Department has notified enhancement in scholarships for tribal students pursuing higher studies in government and recognised private institutions including universities, colleges and schools.

In the first-ever revision of scholarship amount since 2011-2012, the department has notified more than 100 per cent to 125 per cent hike in each segment and also increased the number of courses to more than 350 from existing less than 50 courses. This is a major boost to ensure quality education for tribal students.

In a significant move, the Tribal Affairs Department aiming to boost support for the education of tribal students has increased the scholarship in Group A courses from existing Rs 30,000/annum from 2011-12 to Rs 72,000/annum including Rs 12,000 allowances.

The scholarship for Group B courses stagnated at Rs 20,000/annum from 2011-12 has now been enhanced to Rs 53,200/annum including Rs 82,00 as allowances. In Group C courses, the scholarship has been enhanced from Rs 18,000 to Rs 41,700 and in Group D courses, it has been enhanced from Rs 12,000 to Rs 28,700 including allowances.

Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that in view of the increased cost of quality education, the revision of scholarship for ST students was overdue since last more than 10 years and the government has enhanced the scholarship amount to fund the tuition and other expenses in higher education, starting Class XI to Post-Graduate courses.

He added that in view of the persistent demand of students over the years and in wake of emerging fields of studies, the department has also added more than 300 new courses covering management, soft skills, robotics, data analytics, blockchain, artificial intelligence, aviation, coding and so on, to be covered under scholarship scheme.

The scholarship will now be revised every two years based on various parameters including the cost of living, fee structure, expenses on books, stationery and other allied material. The scholarship will be disbursed through an online portal which is notified to be live from July 20, 2022 for fresh applications and students have been advised to ensure accurate information of various components of the scholarship is filled in through respective institutions before the cut-off date of August 31, 2022.

Pertinently, the department awarded the highest-ever Rs 31 crore scholarship earlier this year and also covered backlog cases of previous years. The scholarship for students enrolled in seasonal centres has also been enhanced and a proposal is under consideration for the enhancement of pre-matric scholarship as well. The department has enhanced the scholarship budget to Rs 50 crore for the financial year 2022-23.