Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Dec 13 :
Over the past three financial years, the Centre has allocated more than Rs 350 crore to Jammu and Kashmir under the National Health Mission (NHM), reveals the data tabled in Lok Sabha. These funds were specifically designated for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) components of the mission.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), during the year 2022–23, J&K received Rs 41.69 crore for SC and Rs 14.45 crore for ST population.
The allocation significantly increased in 2023–24, with Rs 114.88 crore (SC) and Rs 47.78 crore (ST). For the ongoing 2024–25 fiscal, Rs 100.96 crore (SC) and Rs 49.08 crore (ST) have been released.
Officials said these funds support Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ambulance services, ASHA workers, free diagnostics, free drugs, maternal-child health programmes, and immunisation services under NHM.
The Ministry also highlighted J&K’s inclusion in national-level tribal health interventions such as the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission and PM-JANMAN, to improve healthcare in remote tribal belts like Rajouri and Kupwara.
Under Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY, the Centre said millions of SC/ST families across the country, including those in J&K, have been issued Ayushman cards providing health insurance cover up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually.
The government further informed Parliament that special allocations under DAPSC (Scheduled Castes) and DAPST (Scheduled Tribes) continue to be monitored to address healthcare gaps and improve service delivery in backward and tribal regions—(KNO)