Govt releases Rs 310 cr to GMC Udhampur, Handwara

Srinagar, Aug 15: The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department has released Rs 310 crore for GMC Udhampur and GMC Handwara under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Establishment of New Medical Colleges’ attached to District/referral Hospitals.
“Sanction is here accorded to the revalidation/release of Rs. 31007.5955 Lakhs (Three Hundred Ten Crore Seven Lakhs Fifty-Nine Thousands Five Hundred Fifty), in favour of Director Finance, H&ME Dept., unspent balance under Centrally Sponsored Scheme Establishment of New Medical Colleges attached to District/ referral Hospitals,” said an official document of H&ME.
It said it is meant for its further placement at the disposal of Principal Govt. Medical College Handwara/Udhampur for utilization towards the construction of New Medical Colleges at Handwara in Kupwara district and Udhampur during the current financial year 2023-24.
As per the document, the total sanctioned amount includes Rs 17,246.81 for GMC Handwara and Rs 13,760.7855 for GMC Udhampur.
The document said that the expenditure shall be made strictly according to the classification under which funds have been authorized by the Finance Department.
“Treasury Officers shall not entertain bills without complete classification under which funds have been authorized by the Finance Department,” it said.
The DDO shall complete all formalities before presentation of bills at the treasury and treasury officer shall not allow parking or drawl of funds in the Civil Deposit without prior concurrence of the Finance Department.
Principal, GMC, Handwara/ Udhampur shall send a status report about the scheme in terms of physical and financial progress made during the current financial year. They have also been instructed to send Utilization Certificate (UC) of the funds positively before 31-03- 2024.
It further said that all the sanctions/approvals and clearances shall be in place before drawl of money from the treasury.
Director Finance, H&ME Department would vouch safe utilization of funds on BEAMS portal and accordingly transfer/credit funds to the concerned HOD through SNA account.
The Principals of Govt. Medical College, Handwara/Udhampur shall vouchsafe the utilization of funds as per the procedure/ Government of India’s guidelines.
“The expenditure shall be incurred strictly as per guidelines of the scheme and conditions laid down in the sanction letter of the concerned Ministry of Government of India. The funds shall not be available for re-appropriation/diversion at any level,” the document said.
Under the CSS, “Establishment of New Medical Colleges” medical colleges are established in Districts that do not have either a Government or private medical college. Preference is given to undeserved/backward/aspirational Districts.
This Central Sector Scheme was envisaged to bridge the shortfall in manpower in the Medical Sector as also to bridge the geographical imbalance in availability of trained medical manpower across the country.
Director (Coordination), New Medical Colleges, J&K, Dr Yashpal Sharma said that the initiative would revolutionize medical education and enhance healthcare delivery.
“The funds would be spent on construction of the colleges, administrative, academic blocks, quarters, equipment, upgradation of the linked district hospitals,” he said.
Notably, the GMC Handwara and GMC Udhampur started the first batch of MBBS students from this year and these run in make-shift accommodations. Sharma said that with the funds the bed strength would be added from 300-500 beds in both new medical colleges.