Sham Lal Sharma Hon’ble Minister for Health, Floriculture & Horticulture is considered as the senior leader of ‘Congress Party’ in Jammu & Kashmir.He is known for flamboyant and pro-active approach and has successfully steered the health sector of the J & K state to new levels of excellence. He represents Akhnoor Constituency in the J & K Assembly.
In an exclusive interview with ‘The Kashmir Scenario’, Sham Lal Sharma talks to Malik Sajid &Rameez Makhdoomi.
How do you view the recent ranking of Jammu& Kashmir state as Number one in primary and secondary healthcare?
This is a moment of pride for the people of Jammu& Kashmir State and the state Health Department & Ministry.If one analyzes the situation keenly in 2009-2010 our ranking used to be 16th ranking out of top 20 states. And moving from 16th to number one is a big achievement.
How has this been possible despite competing with other well advanced states of country in terms of health care?
Actually, it is factual that states like Gujarat, Delhi, and Rajasthan are way ahead to us. But what is being considered in the ranking is your performance while looking at resources available, Geographical conditions, Climate and in limited resources we have performed quiet brilliantly and the ranking reflects the same paradigm.
Srinagar’s GB Pant Hospital was recently in news for all the wrong reasons on account of abnormal rise in infant deaths. How do you hope to correct the neonatal related health care?
I would like to make it clear that statics related to neonatal health care are not much impressive in our state especially with reference to infant mortality. But over the past few months we have taken series of steps to improve the same. In this regard, we have equipped our primary and secondary health care units with all the required infrastructure and human resource so that the Neonatal health care improves vastly in the state of Jammu& Kashmir.
As far as the issue of GB Pant hospital is concerned at one point of time the situation had really became alarming and with due regards to valuable efforts of civil society and print media the situation has improved significantly. I firmly believe that GB Pant fiasco was result of administrative lacunas which we have successfully addressed that.
Analysts have termed the overall “Referral system” very poor in the state as a result the selected few tertiary health care hospitals feel overburdened. Your take?
Actually, the award for being ranked number one state in health care we received was on account of the highly improved primary and secondary health care. We have been able to contain referrals in IPD’S &OPD’S of all major hospital on account of our improved health sector at grassroots level.
Now as of current date we have ensured strict audit and the concerned human resource is made accountable as to why referrals are made and they have to provide valid reasons for this.
Employees associated with Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP Programme) have played a historical role in curbing Tuber culosis in the state of Jammu& Kashmir despite commendable performance they have always felt left out as they are still to be regularized?
As far as the resource personal like RNTCP, and NRHM and those associated with National AIDS Control Organization (NACO AIDS Programme) are concerned we would be in next line of action definitely taking steps to regularize them as they have played a proficient role in improving the health sector of the state.
These experience resource personal are valuable assets for our Health Department and they will be duly taken care off.
How do you view the abnormal rise in drug menace in the state especially Kashmir valley? Drug Addiction is a serious problem and mere sloganeering wont yield any positive results. We have deterrent laws to curb this evil what we need is an effective will to ensure proper implementation of laws & regulations to curb this menace. I always ask police officials to deal with this menace with iron hand and in a place like Kashmir wherever people have undergone trauma for decades the menace of drug addiction is posing serious challenges and needs special attention. We have also setup number of rehabilitation wards for drug addicts in all the major hospitals of the state over the past few months
Sir, since you also oversee the Horticulture related affairs one has definitely seen tremendous horticulture potential especially in Kashmir. But the conditions of our Fruit Mandi’s continue to remain poor especially important facility like “Cold storage” is non-existent .Your take on this?
Definitely a lot has to be done to improve the basic facilities in our fruit Mandi. But to improve the overall structure of our fruit Mandi’s towards betterment we also require active cooperation from the traders which so far we have been not been getting as desired.
As far as the issue of installing the cold storage is concerned seeing the past experiences we have decided to install with the collaboration with “private sector” and they need to come forward in this regard.
We have a five point plan to implement in the next financial year which involves making alive the large tracts of barren land provide vibrant irrigation facilities and enlarge orchard land so as to take our horticulture sector to new era of positivism and betterment.
Accident related deaths are growing in the state. What is being done to improve the status of emergency units in this regard?
18-40 years our fertile age group of youth are mostly being martyred in these fatal incidents and improving the overall structure of emergency units has been top priority and we are taking steps to train personal in first aid so that precious lives can be saved.
What is your message to the people of state?
My message to masses of our state is to maintain brotherhood & peace as they have displayed over the past few years. We need to maintain peace to achieve progress.
I am aware that the youth of the Jammu& Kashmir State have been facing the brunt of unemployment and in this regard I am taking a proposal to government to provide barren land to the youth of the state on lease basis for the horticulture & agriculture purposes so that they can generate meaningful avenues for their livelihood.