Excelsior Correspondent
![Minister for Higher Education Mohd Akbar Lone addressing a gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan on Monday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/page5-413.jpg)
JAMMU, Jan 27: Minister for Higher Education Mohammed Akbar Lone and Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today reiterated Omar Abdullah led Government’s resolve to reorient the higher and professional education as per the needs of the job market, enabling pass outs to face the competitive world with vigour and renewed confidence.
“We are endeavouring to have a mechanism where under the institutions of higher learning remain linked to corporate and industrial sectors so that youngsters get better openings after completing their studies”, Mr Lone said while addressing a large gathering during public hearing at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhavan here this morning.
Giving account of the strides made to rejuvenate overall education sector, Mr Lone said major thrust has been on upgrading the institutions and infrastructural facilities, taking higher learning to the doorsteps of the youth besides enforcing academic auditing, improving the status of higher learning and monitoring the performance of various institutions on regular basis.
He said endeavours are afoot to further expand the reach of education to more and more areas and fulfill the logistic and academic requirements of various institutions. He said the youth form most pivotal segment of the society and National Conference attaches immense significance to their empowerment and seeking their role in the decision making.
Mr Lone exhorted youth to play their crucial role in socio-economic transformation, saying Jammu and Kashmir has passed through difficult times and it is incumbent upon all to make it again a real paradise on earth. He assured the youngsters that the Government was seized of their problems and all out efforts were underway to mitigate these.
Asking youngsters to concentrate on their academics, the Minister said Omar Abdullah led Government will take every possible step to encourage them in their chosen endeavours.
Speaking on the occasion, the Provincial President referred to the innovative Udaan and Himayat programmes, which have been introduced at behest of the Chief Minister, and said that since Jammu and Kashmir is the only State across the country having this facility, the educated unemployed youth should seek optimal benefit of these.
“Get registered for benefit under these schemes that open up vistas of opportunities in the corporate sector”, Mr Rana told the youngsters who were present in large numbers.
Reposing immense faith in youth power, the Provincial President hoped they will shoulder their responsibilities and play their defined role in steering State to the pinnacles of progress and development. “Inclusive development has been cherished agenda of the Omar Abdullah and therefore this mission has to be accomplished with zeal and devotions”, he said while making a mention of the vision of the Chief Minister on peaceful, progressive and forward looking Jammu and Kashmir.
Several delegation and people from various areas met the Minister and the Provincial President and sought redressal to their collective and individual problems.