Relief to nursing, paramedical colleges as admn gives nod to fill up leftover seats

Jammu, February 22

In a major relief to the management of nearly 150 nursing and paramedical colleges, Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday approved filling up of leftover vacancies in such institutions after centralised counselling by the Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE) is over. The approval was granted by the Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, a spokesman said.

The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, approved filling up of leftover vacancies in paramedical institutions after centralized counseling by Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) is over.

Adviser to the Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Principal Secretary to L-G, Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, attended the meeting.

The AC approved filling up of leftover seats for admission to M.Sc/ B.Sc Nursing, Post Basic B.Sc Nursing, B. Pharmacy course and various paramedical courses in the government-run and private institutions in the UT by the institution itself, on merit basis strictly as per the eligibility criteria and Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) framed by the government, after centralized counselling by the J&K BOPEE is over.

“This has been necessitated because of the fact that majority of such seats in the private as well as government nursing and paramedical institutions remain unfilled and a representation in this regard was submitted by the promoters of the institutions,” an official said.

He said the case was examined and the model in state of Punjab was also studied. Thereafter the Health and Medical Education Department took a decision to frame SoPs in consultation with Registrar, J&K Paramedical Council. In consultation with GAD and J&K BOPEE, H&ME Department submitted the instant proposal for the approval of AC.

The nursing and paramedical colleges, mostly in private sector, offer 20,000 diploma and 400 degree seats in various courses but have recorded negligible admissions for the last two academic sessions after the introduction of new system of admissions for these courses through BOPEE after the reorganisation of J&K into two Union territories in 2019.

50% hike in honorarium of ReK teachers

The Administrative Council has accorded approval to 50 per cent hike in honorarium in favour of 2417 Rehbar-e-Khel (ReK) physical education teachers of Youth Services and Sports Department. Earlier, a high-powered committee constituted under the chief secretary had recommended hike in honorarium in favour of these Rehbar-e-Khel teachers. The enhancement will encourage them to further promote and popularise sports activities in schools, an official said.