Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar today said the State Government is pursuing for increase in seats under the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) to benefit maximum number of students from Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at an awareness workshop on PMSS at Women’s College Gandhi Nagar here, the Minister said with the sustained efforts of the State Government, the flagship Scholarship scheme, which was earlier marred by various hiccups, is now attracting more and more students and last year around 3500 students get admission in various colleges, including some of the prestigious institutions, outside the state under PMSSS.
“Fortunately, far less complaints have been received this year regarding the implementation of the scheme,” he said.
Pitching for increase in seats under PMSSS, the Minister said this year more seats would be allocated for technical courses to help students pursue various job-oriented courses. He said that during 2015-16 over 3500 students from Jammu and Kashmir were selected and got admission in some top professional colleges of the country under PMSSS.
He said taking serious note of the complaints of the students about the problems in getting the due benefits after their admission, the State Government took up the issue with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and other agencies and streamlined the implementation by isolating certain elements in the process.
He said after the corrective measures by the State Government in consultation with AICTE not only admission process has been streamlined but issues of students selected in initial areas have also been addressed to certain extent.
A large number of students, college staff and representatives from AICTE attended the workshop, where resource persons sensitized the students about the Scheme by highlighting its objectives.
Earlier, in his welcome address Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon explained to the audience the main objective of PMSSS which he said is aimed at building capacities of JK youth.
Prof A P Mittal, Member Secretary AICTE also spoke on the occasion and informed the gathering about various initiatives in education.
Madhuri Sahasrabudhe made a power-point presentation on the importance of interaction in developing mutual trust and bonding and shared her personal experiences as a first lady head of an institution.
Prof Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, AICTE guided stakeholders of its selection procedure and eligibility criteria. He laid emphasis that all the students having annual income of Rs 6.00 lakh per annum should avail this scheme.
Principal Secretary School Education, Shalin Kabra also addressed the workshop.
Information brochures about PMSSS were also distributed among the students on the occasion.
Ajit Angral, Principal Science College, presented formal vote of thanks while Dr Kiran Bakshi, Principal, Govt. P G College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu welcomed the guests.
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