Centre approves Rs4,800 cr for 7th Pay Commission award to J&K govt employees

Stating this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, union minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy said the central government has been fully committed to the overall development of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the newly created union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Reddy said that certain 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) allowances, namely, Children Education Allowance, Hostel Allowance, Transport Allowance, LTC, Fixed Medical Allowance were not being given to nearly 4.5 lakh state government employees in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Since these employees are now central government staff, an amount of Rs4,800 crore ha been approved for payment of allowances to all such employees, since the day these new union territories came into existence on 31 October 2019. The 7th CPC pay and allowances will now be available to all government employees of both the new UTs.

Further, Reddy stated that after the creation of the two UTs on 31 October 2019, a total of Rs14,559.25 crore as the balance share of 14th Finance Commission grants, share of taxes etc that were being given to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir has been apportioned amongst the two new UTs. Out of this, Rs2,977.31 crore has already been released to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Rs1,275.99 crore has already been released to the UT of Ladakh till date.

On account of article 35A and other constitutional ambiguities, the people of these regions were denied full rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and other benefits of various central laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens in the country. After the declaration issued by the President under Article 370, based on recommendation of the Parliament, and reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and union territory of Ladakh, all such aspects have been addressed and therefore the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions can develop and progress like other parts of the country.  

Under the centrally sponsored scheme, the government has approved establishment of eight medical colleges in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. These medical colleges, which are under various stages of implementation, will come up in the districts of Doda, Kathua, Baramulla, Anantnag, Rajouri, Udhampur, Handwara (Dist. Kupwara) in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and the district of Leh in the UT of Ladakh. The government has also approved creation of two AIIMS like institutions in Jammu and Srinagar, the minister informed.