Government's Grip Loosens on SKIMS: A New Era of Opportunities

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his concerns over the absence of SKIMS under the control of the elected government. Despite this, Abdullah pledged continued support and announced the access to SASCI funds for capital investments, highlighting an opportunity for SKIMS' growth.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday voiced his disappointment over the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) not being under the jurisdiction of the elected government. At the 43rd annual day celebration, he highlighted that crucial files bypass his desk and decisions regarding the institute remain out of the government's hands.

Abdullah noted the absence of senior civil officers at the event, questioning whether they had been deliberately kept away. Despite these bureaucratic hurdles, he urged that SKIMS should not face repercussions. "Wherever SKIMS needed us...we left no stone unturned," he reiterated the government's commitment to the medical facility's financial support.

The chief minister announced a breakthrough that would allow SKIMS to benefit from the Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment funding, now extended to Union territories. This, Abdullah emphasized, provides a significant chance for developing long-term projects at SKIMS, urging its administration to prepare a major project for timely completion.

(With inputs from agencies.)