Jammu, Jan. 30 : The newly elected Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's three day visit to New Delhi, has proved to be quite beneficial to his State, said an official spokesman here.

During his visit to the national capital, the Chief Minister received assurances of full support for the development of the health and education sectors in Jammu and Kashmir apart from sanctioning of funds for various projects.

Besides the assurance, Jammu and Kashmir state has been sanctioned funds for several developmental projects as a result of the many meetings Omar had with various Union ministries, the spokesman claimed in Jammu on Friday.

The spokesman stated the Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss assured Omar that the Union government would extend full support towards establishment of two 400-bed maternity hospitals worth Rs. 300 crore to reduce the burden on the two existing hospitals in the State namely one in Jammu and another in Kashmir.

Omar actively pursued the need for special central assistance for strengthening the State''s health infrastructure including construction of new buildings to house district hospitals and other health institutions that are currently operating out of rented accommodation, the spokesman stated.

On highlighting the issue of Medical Council of India (MCI) directive stopping admissions in MD paediatrics in GMC Jammu, Ramadoss has reportedly told Omar to continue admissions but take measures to overcome deficiencies.

Regarding recognition of Government Dental College, Jammu, the Union minister assured the chief minister that all necessary steps would be taken to regularise the admissions to BDS courses of previous batches at the appropriate time so that careers of students are not affected.

The Chief Minister was assured that the various other proposed projects in the health care sector would be discussed with the Planning Commission and funds released in a phased manner.

In the education sector, Omar convinced the Union Human Resource Development ministry about the need for setting up 11 new colleges in educationally-backward areas of the State as well as expediting establishment of a central university.

The decision comes close on the heels of his securing approval for setting up 18 polytechnics in many uncovered districts of the state. The Union government has already released Rs 8 crores for starting the work on four polytechnics at a cost of Rs two crore each, the spokesman said.

Omar''s discussions with the Union minister for water resources Saifuddin Soz, resulted in the release of Rs 119 crores under the Flood Management Programme (FMP) and inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir among the 14 states identified for the programme.

Two more proposals under the FMP worth Rs 22.77 crore are under the ministry''s consideration, Abdullah was told, said the spokesman. (ANI)