WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said major healthcare and higher education initiatives are moving ahead in Jammu and Kashmir, with an AIIMS block likely to begin OPD services this year and the file for the proposed Law University ready for final approval. He also said good news on private universities is expected soon, while outlining plans to promote local film talent and improve meat safety through a modern abattoir in Srinagar.
Speaking to media Omar said There are mainly two things. First, as you might recall, last year and even this year, there were widespread complaints regarding meat, and spoiled meat was actually found being sold in several places. It reached a point where people like us, who usually eat meat at least twice a day, were forced to stop eating it altogether.
This project (referring to modern abattoir) was originally conceived in 2011–12, but due to several reasons, as you can see, the work never progressed. The good news today is that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Haseeb and other officials have revived it. Around ₹31 crore will be spent on this modern abattoir. The sheep brought in will undergo disease screening, and the entire process will be Halal-certified so that no one has any doubts or concerns, Omar said.
Although the project has a two-year timeline, Haseeb has assured me that they will complete it within a year and a half. As you may remember, there was a time when meat sold in Srinagar and adjacent areas had an inspection stamp attached, confirming it was safe and authentic. Over time, that practice stopped. We want to restart that system so that meat sold here carries an official seal—giving people the confidence that it is high quality and safe for their health, he said.
On International film festival Omar said, “I wish we had reached a point where people from Hollywood would come, but that will take time. For now, even if some come from Bollywood or Bollywood, that is a good thing. However, our objective is not merely to bring Bollywood people here; our endeavor is to give the local people exposure to diverse cinema, he said.
Neither is it my objective, nor the objective of this film festival—and we should not be under the misconception—that we are organizing this just so that Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, or Salman Khan come here, and only then does it become a film festival. The purpose of this film festival is to showcase films that local people would not ordinarily get to watch, CM said.
Alongside that, the aim is to organize cutting-edge workshops conducted by professionals from the film industry—covering editing, direction, cinematography, music, and more. This way, whenever film shoots take place here, there won’t be a need to bring in all the technicians from outside. Our own people will be able to do that work, which in turn will also generate employment opportunities here. That is the endeavor, he said.
On being asked three questions by this reporter Omar said, In the Assembly, sir, the Speaker wouldn’t let you move past the first question—let alone a supplementary—and here you’ve brought up three entirely separate subjects!
Alright, first, regarding AIIMS: the work is progressing rapidly. The Health Minister continues to review it regularly. When I visited earlier to inspect the construction, we were assured that one block would become operational this year to start OPD services and certain other treatments. We hope they stand by that commitment, he said.
Second, regarding the Law University: it will be established. Discussions are ongoing regarding the exact location, but I believe the file is ready; we just need to grant the final approval, and it will be done, he said.
Third, regarding private universities: we have heard that the first one or two private universities are already prepared to come in. In the coming few weeks, not only will we likely hear good news on this, but we may also see foundation stones laid and actual work commencing, Omar said.
The process has started. They were simply waiting because passing the Act in the Assembly is one step, but framing the underlying rules is another. The Act was passed during the Budget Session, after which we worked on drafting the rules. The rules have now been framed and notified, so private universities will begin setting up, he said.
