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Sakina Itoo

by | Sep 7, 2025 | Politics | 0 comments

Sakina Itoo is a prominent political figure in Jammu & Kashmir, with a career spanning several ministerial terms and multiple portfolios. Her entry into politics was deeply influenced by her family background, particularly the assassination of her father, Wali Mohammad Itoo, who was the former Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

Sakina Itoo has served in various ministerial capacities, holding significant portfolios across different government terms:

  • 1996–2002: In the National Conference-Indian National Congress coalition government, she served as the Minister of State for Education (1996-1999) and was later given independent charge of Tourism and Floriculture (1999-2002).

  • 2008–2014: During her tenure in the National Conference-Indian National Congress coalition government, she held the cabinet portfolio of Social Welfare, with additional charge of Administrative Reforms, Inspections, Trainings & Public Grievances.

  • 2024–Present: Following the 2024 Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections, she was re-elected and appointed to the cabinet. She currently holds key portfolios including Health & Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare.


Sakina Itoo’s political journey began under tragic circumstances. She is the daughter of Wali Mohammad Itoo, a veteran National Conference leader and a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Damhal Hanji Pora constituency. Her father was assassinated by terrorists in 1994, which propelled her into politics to continue his legacy.

Her contributions as a minister have focused on public service delivery and social welfare, particularly in her more recent terms.

  • Education: During her tenure in 2024, she has been a vocal advocate for reforms in the education sector. She has commented on issues related to the affiliation of schools with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and has emphasised the need to align private educational institutions with government norms.

  • Social Welfare: In her various stints as Social Welfare Minister, she has focused on the implementation and review of welfare schemes. She is known for directing officials to ensure the timely disbursement of pensions and financial assistance to beneficiaries. Her work has included distributing aids such as tricycles and hearing aids to individuals with disabilities, as well as reviewing schemes like the “Ladli Beti” program.

  • Health & Medical Education: In her current role since 2024, she has prioritised the upgradation of healthcare infrastructure. She has been involved in the inauguration of new Primary Health Centres and has stated her commitment to completing ongoing projects, such as the Bone & Joint Hospital, and equipping medical facilities with advanced technology.

Sakina Itoo has been a prominent public servant, and her work has been recognised. In 2012, she received the Best MLA Award for her performance and dedication to her constituency, an honour that underscores her impact as a legislator. While she is a frequent public speaker and has made numerous statements to the media, no official books or academic publications are attributed to her.

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