Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Minister Sakina Itoo has said that restoration of statehood remains one of the foremost priorities of the National Conference-led government and asserted that the party will continue to raise the issue until the Union Territory’s statehood and other constitutional guarantees are restored.
In an extensive interview with The News Now’s Faheem Tak,Itoo said the government had already passed a resolution on statehood in the Cabinet and subsequently in the Legislative Assembly, describing it as the first major resolution of the elected government.
She said the National Conference had made repeated efforts over the past 18-19 months to remind the Union Government of commitments made regarding restoration of statehood after elections and delimitation.
“Whether it is through the courts or by taking up the issue with the Union Government, we have continuously made efforts,” she said, adding that the Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi was another significant step in the campaign.
Itoo said the protest organised by the National Conference at Jantar Mantar was not merely a party programme but an attempt to project the collective voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She said political parties representing people in the Assembly, including non-BJP parties, were invited to participate.
According to Itoo, the response to the protest exceeded the party’s expectations. She said the organisers initially expected around 100 to 200 people, but a large number of people turned up on their own after an open invitation was issued.
She described the participation as an “encouraging step” and said the campaign would not end with the Jantar Mantar demonstration.
“Whether it is statehood or our special guarantees, our party’s programme will be decided and the voice will continue to be raised until our rights and guarantees are restored,” she said.
Asked why other political parties that have broadly supported the demand for restoration of statehood did not participate prominently in the Delhi protest, Itoo accused them of failing to stand openly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She said parties that stayed away either did not want to antagonise the Union Government or were sending different messages to Delhi and the people of J&K.
“If they cannot come out openly and speak for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, then either they are deceiving themselves or the people,” she said.
Itoo stressed that while political parties could have their own agendas and flags, there should be a common platform when it comes to the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
She also highlighted the role of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah in bringing political parties together through the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), and recalled instances when leaders had extended support to prevent the BJP from forming a government.
On allegations of corruption and a “transfer industry” against the Omar Abdullah government, Itoo said opposition parties had every right to criticise the government but should substantiate allegations of corruption with evidence.
“If you are talking about corruption, bring evidence. Go to whichever agency you want and ask for an investigation,” she said, adding that those found involved should be punished.
She criticised what she described as “criticism for the sake of criticism” and said allegations without evidence would not serve any purpose.
Regarding the much-discussed meeting at Dachigam, Itoo said party meetings and internal discussions were a regular feature of the National Conference and that the Dachigam meeting was not unusual.
She said discussions are held at the working committee, provincial and party levels on how to strengthen and move the organisation forward.
“The only different thing was that this meeting was held at Dachigam. There was nothing else unusual about it,” she said.
On speculation over the expansion or reshuffle of the Council of Ministers, Itoo said the decision rested primarily with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
She said neither she nor other prospective ministers had any role in deciding who would be inducted.
According to her, party president Farooq Abdullah could offer his advice, but the final decision would be taken by the Chief Minister.
Itoo said reports suggesting a possible expansion around August 18 had reached her, but she maintained that the decision was ultimately the Chief Minister’s.
Discussing the functioning of the School Education and Higher Education departments, Itoo acknowledged that transfers remained one of the biggest issues faced by employees.
She said genuine humanitarian cases—including serious illnesses, marriage-related matters, mutual transfers and security concerns—were being considered, while efforts were being made to prevent people from using influence simply to avoid postings in remote areas.
She said the Higher Education transfer policy had already been approved and that the formal order was expected shortly.
The School Education transfer policy, she said, had also reached an advanced stage. The draft was placed in the public domain for 15-20 days to invite suggestions and comments.
“Somebody may give a better suggestion than us, and if it is good, we will include it,” she said.
Itoo said the policy would be meaningful only if it was properly implemented and not merely notified on paper.
The minister said a similar transfer policy was needed in the Health Department, where she claimed some doctors had remained posted at the same place for years while others had been waiting for transfers.
She said the policy would also take into account the difficulties faced by women doctors and genuine family circumstances.
“We will take suggestions and then do what is best for everyone,” she said.
Itoo defended the government’s record on education and health, saying it had worked to address staff shortages while simultaneously insisting on accountability.
She said the government had undertaken promotions in around 36 subjects in the education sector, with only a few subjects remaining.
The bigger challenge, she said, was the shortage of teachers created by the freezing of teacher posts in 2019.
Itoo said she had moved a proposal to the Finance and Law departments seeking defreezing of the frozen posts so that vacancies could be filled through the recruitment process.
She said the proposal was still under process and that observations raised by departments were being addressed.
The minister also said the government had worked on rationalisation and staffing, asserting that no school was completely without teachers, although shortages still existed in several places.
Itoo said that shortly after the present government assumed office, she had signed a proposal for the recruitment of 725 lecturers and sent it to the recruitment authorities.
She said around 400-500 lecturers had since been selected and were joining their respective institutions.
On healthcare, she said 500 doctors had previously been recruited and another 400 doctors had been selected, with CID verification underway before their deployment, particularly in remote areas.
She also referred to recruitment of paramedical staff and creation of additional posts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
The minister strongly opposed the requirement of a fresh Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for existing teachers, particularly those appointed as RET teachers.
She said teachers were responsible for preparing students for examinations ranging from NEET and civil services to other competitive examinations and questioned the logic of requiring the same teachers to undergo another eligibility test.
Itoo said the Jammu and Kashmir Government had already filed a review petition before the Supreme Court on the issue and assured teachers that the government would continue to make every possible effort to support their case.
She described teachers as the foundation of society and said their dignity and identity should be protected.
Itoo said improving healthcare facilities in remote and underserved areas remained a major priority of the government.
She referred to the establishment of a cath lab at Government Medical College Anantnag, saying it had reduced the need for cardiac patients from south Kashmir to travel to Srinagar for emergency treatment.
She said a similar cath lab was being planned for Baramulla and that dialysis facilities had been established across district hospitals.
The minister also referred to proposals for MRI facilities and other specialised healthcare infrastructure in several areas.
She said the government was working to ensure that patients could access treatment closer to their homes rather than being forced to travel to Srinagar or outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Itoo said her long-term objective was to build a healthcare system strong enough that patients from Jammu and Kashmir would not have to travel outside the Union Territory for treatment.
“That is my dream and that is my effort,” she said.
She acknowledged that significant gaps remained in healthcare infrastructure, particularly in remote areas, but said the government was addressing them in a phased manner.
She also said Jammu’s Pir Panjal and Chenab regions required continued attention and that she had visited several remote areas, including Rajouri, where she personally assessed deficiencies.
Responding to criticism over shortcomings in healthcare and education, Itoo said many of the problems had been inherited from previous governments and administrations.
However, she said this could not be used as an excuse for inaction.
“We inherited these problems, but it is our responsibility to fix and improve them,” she said.
She added that the government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had given particular attention to health and education, describing both sectors as fundamental to the development of any state or Union Territory.
Towards the end of the interview, Itoo reflected on the difference between working as a minister in a full-fledged state and functioning under the present Union Territory structure.
Recalling her earlier political career, she said she had served as a Deputy Minister and later as Social Welfare Minister when Jammu and Kashmir had statehood.
She said ministers had greater powers and administrative space under the state structure compared with the present UT arrangement.
However, she said the limitations had not stopped the elected government from trying to deliver.
“We have been given the trust and mandate of the people. Whatever is in our hands, we will not leave any stone unturned,” she said.
Itoo credited veteran National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah with guiding her early political career and said she had learnt the basics of politics under his mentorship.
She concluded by reiterating that despite administrative and constitutional limitations, the government would continue working to address public grievances and improve services.
The minister said the ultimate objective was to live up to the trust placed in the elected government by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
