Lok Sabha Question No. 3610 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Development of New UTs of J&K and Ladakh
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Sudheer Gupta, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3610

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER, 2019/ AGRAHAYANA 19, 1941 (SAKA)

## DEVELOPMENT OF NEW UTs OF J&K AND LADAKH

3610.

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  creation  of  two  Union  Territories  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and Ladakh after abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has opened new vistas  for  the  development  and  progress  in  this  region  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;

- (b)  whether  putting  the  State  Government  employees  at  par  with  Central Government  employees  will  provide  better  health  and  education  and  other facilities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  a  delegation  of  teachers  from  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and  Ladakh recently  met  the  Personnel  and  Public  Grievance  Minister  and  demanded  for creation  of  an  autonomous  independent  education  commission  for  the  UTs, transfer policy and DPC of all cadres in the school education department bodies;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  Union  Government  in  this regard;
- (e)  the funds sanctioned and released by the Government in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh for various developmental works since its creation; and

(f) whether the Government proposes to open eight medical colleges in the UTs and two AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir and Srinagar and if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to be done?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a): The Government of India has been fully committed to the overall development of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the newly created  Union  Territory  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and  the  newly  created  Union Territory of Ladakh. On account of article 35A and other constitutional ambiguities, the people of these regions were denied full rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and other benefits of various Central Laws that were being enjoyed  by  other  citizens  in  the  country.  After  the  declaration  issued  by  the President  under  Article  370,  based  on  recommendation  of  the  Parliament,  and reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh, all such aspects have been addressed and therefore the  Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions can develop and progress like other parts of the country.

(b): Yes,  Sir.  Certain  7 th   Central  Pay  Commission  (CPC)  allowances  namely Children  Education  Allowance,  Hostel  Allowance,  Transport  Allowance,  LTC, Fixed  Medical  Allowance  that  were  not  being  given  to  nearly  4.5  Lakh  State Government employees in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir have been approved for an estimated cost of Rs.4800 Crores, for all such employees, who are  now  working  in  the  Union  Territory  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and  the  Union Territory  of  Ladakh,  since  the  day  these  new  Union  Territories  came  into existence i.e 31 st  October 2019.

(c) & (d): Yes Sir,  A  delegation  of  teachers  from  Jammu,  Kashmir  and  Ladakh met  the  Union  Minister  of  State  for  Personnel,  Public  Grievances  &  Pensions (PPG&P) on 12th November 2019.  The delegation was informed that since the newly created UTs have come into existence, all the 7 th  CPC pay and allowances will be available to all the Government employees of both the new UTs.

(e): After  the  creation  of  the  two  UTs  on  31 st   October,  2019,  a  total  of Rs.14559.25  crores  as  the  balance  share  of  14 th   Finance  Commission  grants, share of taxes etc. that were being given to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir  has  been  apportioned  amongst  the  two  new  UTs.    Out  of  this, Rs.2977.31 crores has already been released to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Rs.1275.99 crores has already been released to the UT of Ladakh till date.

(f): Yes,  Sir.  Under  the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  the  Government  has approved establishment of eight medical colleges in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. These medical colleges, which are under various stages of implementation,  will  come  up  in  the  districts  of  Doda,  Kathua,  Baramulla, Anantnag, Rajouri, Udhampur, Handwara (Dist. Kupwara) in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the district of Leh in the UT of Ladakh.

The  Government  has  also  approved  creation  of  two  AIIMS  like  institutions  in Jammu and Srinagar.

********