![Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh with students from Doda and Reasi districts of J&K, at a get-together hosted by him, at New Delhi on Saturday. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh with students from Doda and Reasi districts of J&K, at a get-together hosted by him, at New Delhi on Saturday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/page5-23.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 15: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today hosted a get-together for a group of 75 students from Doda and Reasi districts of Jammu & Kashmir.
During a one-hour informal interaction, the students engaged in a free-frank exchange of ideas and also offered their opinions on diverse subjects ranging from status of educational institutions in their respective areas to some of the political issues currently being debated.
The students from Doda were particularly excited about the Medical College sanctioned last year. Dr Jitendra Singh told them that hopefully, the first academic session of the Medical College in Doda will start from next year.
The students also appreciated the upgradation of the roads in Doda which had taken place in the last three or four years. However, they complained about some of the teaching faculty members in the Government Schools not performing their responsibility with dedication. They also complained about inadequate medical staff in the district hospital. Dr Jitendra Singh told them that he was already aware of these issues and had discussed them with the concerned State Authorities. He said, he hoped that under the Governor’s rule, all these issues will be addressed to the people’s satisfaction.
Dr Jitendra Singh also spoke about the potential to promote tourism along river Chenab in Doda and said that some of the most scenic and attractive moods of the waves and flow of Chenab could be witnessed during the river’s passage through Doda.
The students from Reasi appreciated the upgradation of the road from Katra to Reasi town in the last three years. However, they demanded similar upgradation of the connecting roads in other parts of the Reasi district, to which Dr Jitendra Singh responded positively and informed that most of the roads had been included either in Central Road Fund projects or PMGSY and those left out, will also be taken up soon.
Dr Jitendra told the Reasi students that when they go back, they should definitely visit the Railway bridge under construction, which is highest in the world, even higher than the Eiffel Tower. He also impressed upon them to visit the War Memorial set up by him from his Funds in the vicinity of the office of Deputy Commissioner Reasi and said, this particularly showcases the “Vijayanta Tank” which was used by India to fight the 1965 war against Pakistan.
Dr Jitendra Singh impressed upon the students to make the best use of the higher education institutions established in the region in the last three to four years, which included IIT, IIM, AIIMS and three Medical Colleges in the Jammu region.