Srinagar, Sept 16: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has scheduled a meeting to review the implementation of the flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the region. This decision comes in response to recent controversies surrounding the mission.
According to an official order obtained by Presspact, the Chief Secretary has directed all Heads of Departments (HoDs) to attend the meeting, which will focus on assessing the ABDM’s progress and addressing ongoing issues.
The review is particularly timely given the recent scrutiny faced by senior IAS Officer Nazim Zai Khan, who serves as Mission Director for the National Health Mission (NHM) and ABDM in Jammu and Kashmir. Khan is under investigation for allegedly breaching the Model Code of Conduct by issuing appointment orders for a new Project Management Unit (PMU) without proper advertisement procedures.
The appointments, reportedly involving individuals with connections to National Conference leaders, have been criticized for their lack of transparency. Despite the Code of Conduct prohibiting such practices, Khan sought an undisclosed web-link from NICSI New Delhi to advertise the positions. The advertisement was made available only to National Conference leaders and party workers on September 1, 2024, with appointment orders following two days later and directives for the new recruits to join by September 6, 2024.
