Srinagar:Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FS&CA), Information Technology (IT), Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, today said that 221 out of 355 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in Jammu and Kashmir have either existing or constructed playfields under the One Panchayat-One Playfield initiative.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA G A Mir regarding implementation of the ‘One Panchayat-One Playfield’ initiative, particularly with reference to Dooru Constituency and the status of sports infrastructure and proposed playfields there.

Quoting information received from the Rural Development Department, Satish Sharma said that 221 out of 355 Gram Panchayats covered under the initiative have playfields, either already existing or newly constructed.

Giving details of Dooru Constituency, the Minister informed the House that 37 out of 66 Gram Panchayats have playfields. He said the Youth Services & Sports Department has taken up two playfield projects in Dooru Constituency during the past three years. The Playfield at Larkipora near ADV Road Bathuno, taken up during 2024-25 at a cost of Rs 48.55 lakh, has achieved 90 per cent completion, added. He apprised that another Playfield at Shangren has been taken up as a new work during 2026-27 at an estimated cost of Rs 80 lakh.

Satish Sharma further informed that 26 playfield sites have been approved under AAP 2026-27 as part of VB-G RAM-G by the Rural Development Department, Anantnag, where suitable government land has been made available by the Revenue Department. He said that development of playfields by the Youth Services & Sports Department is undertaken after following all requisite formalities, including availability of encumbrance-free land, transfer of land and availability of funds.

He said that sports infrastructure in Dooru Constituency is being progressively improved and upgraded through the J&K Sports Council and Directorate of Youth Services & Sports.

The Minister informed that four major sports facilities are being developed or maintained in the constituency including Sports Stadium, Dooru, equipped with a change-room-cum-pavilion, cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch, chain-link fencing, main gate and dugouts. Besides, playfield at Verinag is presently under development with a change-room-cum-pavilion, cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch, chain-link fencing, main gate, dugouts and mechanical roller. The playfield at Qammar Shahbaad, Block Verinag, is being maintained by the J&K Sports Council while the playfield at Bhahi Bachoo Hiller, is being developed with cricket competition pitch, net practice pitch and chain-link fencing, he told the House.

The Minister informed that a DPR amounting Rs 1,035.98 lakh has been prepared for upgradation of Sports Stadium Dooru and is presently under consideration by the Department. The proposed works included pavilion building with change rooms, seating tiers with canopy, cricket competition pitches, net practice pitches, dugouts, synthetic volleyball court, mechanical roller and floodlights, he added.

Regarding proposals for development of playfields at Sayen/Sagam, Sadiwara, Chowgund, Qammar, Dudwangan, Akingam, Hiller Kokernag and other identified locations, Satish Sharma said the sites are under consideration for land transfer and development. He informed that the process for transfer of land to the Youth Services & Sports Department is underway with the Revenue Department while in the case of Sadiwara and Hiller Kokernag, the land-transfer process is yet to be initiated.

The Minister said that once the land preparation and transfer processes are finalised, the department would consider the required development works, subject to availability of funds, land and feasibility. He also informed that a DPR amounting Rs 150 lakh has been prepared for development of the Sayen Sagam playfield, envisaging ground expansion through cutting and filling, protection works, seating tiers, cricket competition pitches, net practice pitches and a synthetic volleyball court.

Wide network of Fair Price Shops established across J&K: Satish Sharma

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports, and ARI and Trainings Satish Sharma informed the House that the Department of FCS&CA has established a wide network of Fair Price Shops across Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Legislator Hasnian Masoodi in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister informed that the criteria for establishment of Fair Price Shops (FPS) are laid down in S.O. 41 dated 19.01.2023. He said that in Pampore Assembly Constituency, presently, there are no uncovered areas.

Giving the category-wise position of ration cards and beneficiaries in Pampore Constituency, he said there are 2,679 ration cards covering 10,163 souls under AAY, 15,470 ration cards covering 67,157 souls under PHH and 9,776 ration cards covering 40,457 souls under NPHH.

The Minister said that the department is examining the requirement for opening of new Fair Price Shops in the Union Territory along-with rationalization of existing entities with reference to viability, number of ration cards tagged, geographical accessibility and adequate coverage in remote and tribal areas.

In the meantime, the Government of India has launched the umbrella scheme SARTHAK-PDS, subsuming assistance for intra-state movement, handling and FPS dealers’ margin and technology reforms under SMART-PDS, the Minister informed.

The Minister said the scheme provides revised norms of Central assistance towards transportation, handling and assured FPS dealer income, which substantially improves the economic viability of Fair Price Shops. Accordingly, proposals for new FPS shall be assessed on the basis of viability under the assured income model, de-congestion of over-tagged shops and compliance with technology parameters viz. ePoS, electronic weighing scale integration and Aadhaar authentication.

The Minister, while replying to a supplementary raised by the Legislator, said that a committee to relax the criteria for areas with scattered population has already been formulated.

Two State Cancer Institutes established in JK: Sakeena Itoo

Minister for Medical and Health Education, Sakeena Itoo today said that the Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted an Apex Committee to strengthen a coordinated and comprehensive response to the growing burden of cancer and to provide guidance and formulate measures for prevention, screening and treatment of the disease. Director, SKIMS has been designated as the Nodal Officer for the purpose.

The Minister was replying to a question raised by Mir Saifullah in the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister said that with the financial and technical support of the Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has established two State Cancer Institutes, one at SKIMS, Soura and the other at Government Medical College, Jammu.

She said these Institutes have been established with the objective of ensuring comprehensive and specialized cancer care, including diagnosis, treatment and other allied oncology services, thereby catering to the major cancer treatment requirements of the Union Territory.

The existing facilities are being strengthened from time to time in terms of infrastructure, equipment, human resources and specialized treatment services, as per the approved norms and availability of resources, she added.

The Minister informed the House that the Jammu & Kashmir administration is committed to ensure accessible, affordable and quality cancer-care services, particularly for economically vulnerable sections of society. Eligible cancer patients are being provided cashless/free treatment, as applicable, under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, in the empanelled government as well as private health institutions, in accordance with the prescribed eligibility criteria, treatment packages and guidelines under the scheme, she informed.

The Minister maintained that the benefits cover various diagnostic, therapeutic and hospitalization-related services included in the approved packages. In addition, poor and needy cancer patients are being extended financial assistance under the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) scheme, subject to the prescribed eligibility criteria, applicable guidelines and availability of funds, she said. She added that these measures are aimed at facilitating timely access to appropriate cancer treatment and reducing the financial burden on eligible patients and their families.